DuckTales and Big Hero 6 "Share the Joy" promo

Todays' Christmas album: Kenny Burrell's "Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas"

The bluesy jazz guitarist does his thing over lush big band charts.



New teaser: Doctor Who Christmas special


New Beach Boys digital releases round up 1967 live and studio recordings

 
Last summer, the Beach Boys released the excellent 1967: Sunshine Tomorrow double-CD set, which included a gorgeous stereo re-mix of the Wild Honey album and related studio outtakes and live recordings.

Now comes the rest of 1967 via two digital collections. These releases follow in the band's tradition of making available recordings that would otherwise become public domain in Britain. Over there, artistic works become pubic domain after 50 years. That means, unless the artist reasserts rights over the materials, anyone is free to issue them and keep the profits. However, by "publishing" the recordings via official release this way, the Beach Boys/Capitol Records extend their copyrights over them for another 50 years. Plus, we get to hear it all!

Details:

Today, The Beach Boys release two new digital audio collections worldwide via Capitol/UMe, revealing much more of the legendary band's pivotal 1967 creative work in the studio and onstage. Following the acclaimed 2CD and digital 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow collection released in June by Capitol//UMe, 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow 2: The Studio Sessions presents 29 studio session recordings and Live Sunshine – 1967 features 109 live recordings, most of which are previously unreleased.

1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow, 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow 2: The Studio Sessions, and Live Sunshine – 1967 dive deep into a fascinating and frenetic chapter in The Beach Boys' long, groundbreaking creative arc, exploring the band's dynamic year through their recordings. The Beach Boys have personally overseen the creative process for the three collections, which are produced by Mark Linnet and Alan Boyd. Pitchfork reviewer Jesse Jarnow praised 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow as "remarkable," saying, "These recordings make it possible to hear The Beach Boys simultaneously as the moody pop geniuses of Pet Sounds and the fresh-faced surf-rockin' teens from Hawthorne, California."

1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow features Linett and Boyd's new, first-ever stereo mix of The Beach Boys' 1967 Wild Honey album and all three collections throw open the legendary band's vault to debut sought-after rarities, 50 years after they were put to tape. Previously unreleased highlights across the titles include The Beach Boys' shelved "live" album, Lei'd in Hawaii, studio recordings from the Wild Honey and Smiley Smile album sessions, and standout concert recordings spanning 1967 to 1970. Wild Honey's 2017 stereo mix is also available in a 180-gram vinyl 50th Anniversary Edition.

The Beach Boys' final studio session for the shelved SMiLE album took place on May 18, 1967, with Smiley Smile album sessions booked at Brian Wilson's new home studio from June 3 through the end of July. The band's 12th and 13th studio albums were released exactly three months apart to cap the year's studio efforts: Smiley Smile on September 18 followed by Wild Honey on December 18.

For the Smiley Smile sessions, "I wanted to have a home environment trip where we could record at my house," recalls Brian Wilson in the liner notes for 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow. "I wanted to try something different, something new. I produced Smiley Smile, but Mike inspired me. He said 'Brian, let's make a really good, easygoing album'. We had an engineer convert my den into a studio. We had my piano detuned to make it ring more."

"Just prior to that, Brian had built up this production peak and then just completely reversed field, and (for Smiley Smile) did something so light and airy, and y' know, easy," explains Mike Love. "That was an underground album, I figure, for us. It was completely out of the mainstream of what was going on at that time, which was all hard rock, psychedelic music, and here we come with a song called 'Wind Chimes.' It just didn't have anything to do with what was going on – and that was the idea."

"Times were changing," adds Al Jardine. "We were happy to put our musical skills to work. We didn't have to look at the clock; there was virtually 24-hour availability to experiment."


"Take away their sorrow / Give them sunshine tomorrow"

On August 25 and 26, 1967, The Beach Boys (absent Bruce Johnston, but with Brian Wilson on organ for his first concert appearances with the band in more than two years) recorded two concerts and rehearsals in Honolulu for a prospective live album to be titled Lei'd In Hawaii, applying a new Smiley Smile-inspired aesthetic to the performances. Just over two weeks later, the band (with both Brian and Bruce participating) began re-recording the live set in-studio at Brian's house and at Wally Heider Recording in Hollywood, after the Honolulu concert tapes were deemed unusable. Although completed and mixed, the final planned audio element of a canned concert audience was not added and the Lei'd In Hawaii project was canceled. Those live, in-studio performances morphed into sessions for the Wild Honey album, primarily comprised of original Brian Wilson/Mike Love compositions.

Two days after wrapping the Wild Honey sessions on November 15th, 1967, Mike Love, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston returned to the road for The Beach Boys' Thanksgiving Tour, premiering several songs from the forthcoming album at their concerts.

The Beach Boys: 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow 2: The Studio Sessions [digital]All tracks previously unreleased

  1. Heroes And Villains - A Cappella
  2. Vegetables - Track And Background Vocals
  3. She's Going Bald - Track And Background Vocals
  4. Little Pad - A Cappella
  5. With Me Tonight - Session Highlight
  6. Wind Chimes - Track And Background Vocals
  7. Gettin' Hungry - Track And Background Vocals
  8. Whistle In - Track And Background Vocals
  9. Aren't You Glad - Stereo Single Mix
  10. I Was Made To Love Her - Track And Background Vocals
  11. Country Air - Track And Background Vocals
  12. Darlin' - Track And Background Vocals
  13. I'd Love Just Once To See You - Track And Background Vocals
  14. Here Comes The Night - A Cappella
  15. Let The Wind Blow - A Cappella
  16. How She Boogalooed It - Track And Stereo Last Verse
  17. Lonely Days - Session Highlight And Track
  18. Time To Get Alone - Backing Track
  19. Cool Cool Water - Alternate Mix
  20. Can't Wait Too Long - Alternative Mix With Tag
  21. Tune L - Session - Unreleased
  22. Good News - Outtake
  23. Surfin' - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Backing Track
  24. Heroes And Villains - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Version
  25. With A Little Help From My Friends - Session Highlight And Track With Background Vocals
  26. Barbara Ann - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Backing Track
  27. California Girls - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Stereo Mix
  28. God Only Knows - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Stereo Mix
  29. Surfer Girl - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Stereo Mix - Alternate Take
The Beach Boys: Live Sunshine – 1967 [digital]* = track previously released on 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow / all other tracks previously unreleased

  1. Heroes And Villains - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  2. God Only Knows - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  3. Good Vibrations - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  4. The Letter - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  5. You're So Good To Me - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  6. Hawaii - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  7. All Day All Night - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  8. California Girls - Rehearsal Take 1 / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  9. Surfin' - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  10. Sloop John B - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  11. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  12. California Girls - Rehearsal Take 2 / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  13. The Letter - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  14. Hawaii - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  15. You're So Good To Me - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67       
  16. Surfer Girl - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  17. Surfin' - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  18. Gettin' Hungry - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  19. Sloop John B - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  20. California Girls - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  21. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  22. Heroes And Villains - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  23. God Only Knows - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  24. Good Vibrations - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  25. Barbara Ann - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
  26. The Letter - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  27. Hawaii - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
  28. You're So Good To Me - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  29. God Only Knows - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  30. Help Me Rhonda - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  31. California Girls - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  32. Good Vibrations - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  33. Heroes And Villains - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
  34. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  35. The Lord's Prayer - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  36. Hawthorne Boulevard - Instrumental / Live in Honolulu / 1967 *
  37. Hawaii - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  38. You're So Good To Me - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67       
  39. Help Me Rhonda - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  40. California Girls - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  41. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  42. Gettin' Hungry - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
  43. Surfer Girl - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  44. Surfin' - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
  45. Sloop John B - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  46. The Letter - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
  47. God Only Knows - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  48. Good Vibrations - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  49. Heroes And Villains - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  50. Barbara Ann - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
  51. Barbara Ann - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  52. Darlin' - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  53. Country Air - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67 *
  54. I Get Around - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  55. How She Boogalooed It - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67 *
  56. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  57. God Only Knows - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  58. California Girls - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  59. Wild Honey - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67 *
  60. Graduation Day - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  61. Good Vibrations - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  62. Johnny B. Goode - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
  63. Barbara Ann - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  64. Darlin' - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  65. I Get Around - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  66. Surfer Girl - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  67. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  68. God Only Knows - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  69. California Girls - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67 *
  70. Wild Honey - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  71. Good Vibrations - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  72. Graduation Day - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67 *
  73. Johnny B. Goode - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
  74. Help Me Rhonda - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  75. Barbara Ann - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  76. Darlin' - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  77. Surfer Girl - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  78. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67       
  79. God Only Knows - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  80. California Girls - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  81. Wild Honey - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  82. Graduation Day - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  83. Good Vibrations - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
  84. Help Me Rhonda - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  85. Barbara Ann - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  86. I Get Around - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  87. Darlin' - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67 *
  88. Surfer Girl - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  89. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  90. God Only Knows - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  91. California Girls - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  92. Wild Honey - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  93. Good Vibrations - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  94. Johnny B. Goode - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  95. Graduation Day - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  96. Sloop John B - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
  97. Help Me Rhonda - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  98. Barbara Ann - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  99. Darlin' - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  100. Surfer Girl - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  101. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  102. God Only Knows - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  103. California Girls - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  104. Wild Honey - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  105. Good Vibrations - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  106. I Get Around - Live In Boston / 11/23/67 *
  107. Sloop John B - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  108. Graduation Day - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
  109. Johnny B. Goode - Live In Boston / 11/23/67

"New Mutants" cast photo is a riff on AC/DC album cover

Nice.


New music releases: Jim James; The Searchers; Bing Crosby

New and notable this week. Click the links to order from Amazon.


(Note: For some reason Amazon is listing this as a Charlie Parker album?!!!)



 

 

Pop Culture Roundup: Captain Action; Doctor Who; Keith Giffen; Neal Adams

Via Hero Envy: A look at "the first and greatest" superhero action figure - Captain Action.

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Via Retro to Go: Doctor Who Penguin books-inspired postcards.

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 Via Diversions of the Groovy Kind: Early splash pages by comics great Keith Giffen.

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Via the Fabulous Fifties: Vintage Ben Casey by Neal Adams.


Omnivore collects Chris Hillman's "Asylum Years"


Out Feb. 9, a compilation of the former Byrds' early solo material.

Details:

Chris Hillman co-founded some of the most classic, seminal, groundbreaking acts of the ’60s and ’70s including The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, and The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. But, in the mid 1970s, Hillman decided it was time to try things on his own.

1976 brought Slippin’ Away, the musical journeyman’s first solo release. Produced by renowned engineers Ron and Howard Albert (Derek And The Dominoes, Allman Bros., Jimi Hendrix), it was a star-studded affair, featuring members of Booker T. & The M.G.’s, Poco, Buffalo Springfield, The Turtles, and ace studio musicians. Hillman took his place as front-man, and the results were the epitome of the classic ’70s LA sound.

He returned the following year with Clear Sailin’, which saw him dial back the flashy supporting cast for a more traditional release—much like the iconic music he had created in his early years with The Byrds and Burritos. For Clear Sailin’ Hillman assembled a core band (including soon-to-be-superstar Richard Marx) with production helmed by Jim Mascon (Poco, Firefall). A number of songs feature co-writes with Crawdaddy magazine’s founder, Peter Knobler.

Hot on the heels of his 2017 critically acclaimed album (produced by Tom Petty), The Asylum Years presents both of those ’70s albums on one compact disc, with an essay from Scott Schinder, featuring a new interview with Hillman.

Having been a catalyst and innovator on the musical landscape for decades, The Asylum Years sees this byrd take flight.

Tracks:
  1. Step On Out
  2. Slippin’ Away
  3. Falling Again
  4. Take It On The Run
  5. Blue Morning
  6. Witching Hour
  7. Down In The Churchyard
  8. Love Is The Sweetwest Amnesty
  9. Midnight Again
  10. (Take Me In Your) Lifeboat
  11. Nothing Gets Through
  12. Fallen Favorite
  13. Quits
  14. Hot Dusty Roads
  15. Heartbreaker
  16. Playing The Fool
  17. Lucky In Love
  18. Rollin’ And Tumblin’
  19. Ain’t That Peculiar
  20. Clear Sailin’

First photos from "X-Men: Dark Phoenix"

Entertainment Weekly has a first look at "X-Men: Dark Phoenix," which stars "Game of Thrones" actress Sophie Turner as Jean Grey gone bad. The film is set to open in November 2018.





New "Walking Dead" comics covers by Bill Sienkiewicz

I don't read or watch "The Walking Dead," but I'm a longtime fan of Bill's.



New "Black Panther" movie poster


"Both Sides of the Sky," new collection of lost Jimi Hendrix recordings out March 9


You can pre-order it now from Amazon.

Details:

This special album presents thirteen Jimi Hendrix studio recordings ­including ten which have never before been released. 

Both Sides of the Sky is the third volume in a trilogy of albums with Valleys Of Neptune and People, Hell and Angels, intended to present the best and most significant unissued studio recordings remaining in the Hendrix archive. 


Recorded between January 1968 and February 1970, Jimi’s desire to push the boundaries of blues music can be heard throughout. Both Sides of the Sky additionally highlights Jimi’s mastery of studio production and his increasing use of these facilities as a proving ground for new sounds, material, and techniques. Many of the album’s tracks were recorded by the trio that would come to be known as Band of Gypsys: Jimi on guitar and vocals, Billy Cox on bass, and Buddy Miles on drums. For their first-ever recording session on April 22, 1969, Hendrix turned to their shared musical root, delta blues. Their previously unreleased, uptempo reworking of Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy” opens the album and sets the tempo for what follows. “Lover Man” was a favored Hendrix original and the guitarist was determined to realize a finished master. Previous attempts by the original Experience had yet to yield this for Hendrix but this December 1969 effort by the Band Of Gypsys — complete with its homage to the popular Batman theme song—was his strongest effort to date. 


“Hear My Train A Comin'” features drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding from the original Jimi Hendrix Experience. This original blues composition had become a staple of Hendrix’s concerts. This previously unreleased April 1969 recording captured the furious power and dynamic tension that made the song so memorable. Previously unheard recordings of “Stepping Stone,” “Jungle,” “Cherokee Mist” (which features Hendrix on both electric guitar and sitar) as well as the January 1968 recording of “Sweet Angel” provide further highlights. 


Both Sides of the Sky also features an assortment of notable guest musicians. Stephen Stills befriended Hendrix at the June 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. In September of 1969 Stills was invited to a Hendrix session at the Record Plant in New York. Stills burst into the session with a song Joni Mitchell had recently composed, titled “Woodstock.” Joined by Hendrix and Buddy Miles, the trio recorded this version first--months before Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released their popular rendition of Mitchell’s song. Stills would also contribute “$20 Fine,” an original song that featured Hendrix on multiple guitars, Mitchell on drums, Stills on organ and lead vocals and Duane Hitchings (Buddy Miles Express) on piano. 


Another of the album’s unique band creations sees Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Winter on guitar, backed by Billy Cox and drummer Dallas Taylor of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. An excerpt of their rendition of Guitar Slim’s “Things I Used To Do” was initially heard as part of a 1990 nationally syndicated radio program and accompanying box set, but here it is presented in full, newly mixed by Eddie Kramer for Both Sides of The Sky. On “Georgia Blues,” Jimi is reunited with his old bandmate Lonnie Youngblood (vocals/sax) from his pre-fame days in Curtis Knight & The Squires. Briefly issued as part of the 2008 Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues series but out of print for nearly a decade, this special recording is once more available to Hendrix fans throughout the world on all audio formats.


Tracks:

1)    Mannish Boy*
2)    Lover Man*
3)    Hear My Train A Comin'*
4)    Stepping Stone*
5)    $20 Fine*+
6)    Power Of Soul^
7)    Jungle*
8)    Things I Used to Do#
9)    Georgia Blues++
10)  Sweet Angel*
11)  Woodstock*+
12)  Send My Love To Linda*
13)  Cherokee Mist*

*Previously unreleased
^ Previously unavailable extended version
+Featuring Stephen Stills
#Featuring Johnny Winter
++Featuring Lonnie Youngblood

Deal Alert: Games on sale today at Amazon

Board and strategy games are on sale today at Amazon. Check out the listings here.


Comic Art: The Silver Surfer on keyboards, by John Romita

Via Hake's Auctions: A Romita panel used as part of the cover art for the awesome 1976 Spider-Man: Rock Reflections Of A Superhero album.




Video Find: The Sex Pistols play a kids Christmas party, 1977

I love this:

The Sex Pistols' final UK performance was at Ivanhoes in Huddersfield on Christmas day 1977, a benefit for the families of striking firemen.