Every Elvis Presley CD 1984-2005 - Listed

Elvis fans now have a new source of info on releases following the publication of 'Elvis UK3', a complete discography of Presley CD releases from 1983 through to 2005. The listing covers all labels not just those issued by RCA. The work has been completed by John Townson and Gordon Minto and follows their previous works on Elvis vinyl releases. Entries number 450+ and each is shown with tracklistings, composer and studio details, copies of the artwork and commentary. Included in the listings are record label promotional releases together with compilations featuring the King's material. Along with a great number of others I had the pleasure of supporting the detailed research, contributing to the introduction section which details RCA's move into CD manufacturing in 1983 and the release of the very first Elvis product on the medium. The story of the box set The Legend is also told in these pages The ultimate guide to CD releases is published via the Elvis UK Books website currently available in digital 'flipbook' technology. Buyers will also receive a unique 23 track compilation specially commissioned by the authors. A visit to the website shows sample pages and details for purchase etc. Highly recommended for Elvis fans.

Life Is A Rock (and The Radio Rolled Me) - Reunion (1974)

A real One Hit Wonder from the "band" Reunion - a group of session musicians taing advantage of some spare studio time.  Here's the industry related lyrics  - sing along if you can. Released by RCA in 1974.

Life Is A Rock (and The Radio Rolled Me)

B.B. Bumble and the Stingers, Mott the Hoople, Ray Charles Singers

Lonnie Mack and twangin' Eddy, here's my ring we're goin' steady

Take it easy, take me higher, liar liar, house on fire

Locomotion, Poco, Passion, Deeper Purple, Satisfaction

Baby baby gotta gotta gimme gimme gettin' hotter

Sammy's cookin', Lesley Gore and Ritchie Valens, end of story

Mahavishnu, fujiyama, kama-sutra, rama-lama

Richard Perry, Spector, Barry, Archies, Righteous, Nilsson, Harry

Shimmy shimmy ko-ko bop and Fats is back and Finger Poppin'

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me

Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me (whoa whoa whoa whoa)

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me

At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie

FM, AM, hits are clickin' while the clock is tock-a-tickin'

Friends and Romans, salutations, Brenda and the Tabulations

Carly Simon, I behold her, Rolling Stones and centerfoldin'

Johnny Cash and Johnny Rivers, can't stop now, I got the shivers

Mungo Jerry, Peter Peter Paul and Paul and Mary Mary

Dr. John the nightly tripper, Doris Day and Jack the Ripper

Gotta go Sir, gotta swelter, Leon Russell, Gimme Shelter

Miracles in smokey places, slide guitars and Fender basses

Mushroom omelet, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, stop and kick it

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me

Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me (whoa whoa whoa whoa)

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me

At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie

Arthur Janov's primal screamin', Hawkins, Jay and

Dale and Ronnie, Kukla, Fran and Norma Okla

Denver, John and Osmond, Donny

JJ Cale and ZZ Top and LL Bean and De De Dinah

David Bowie, Steely Dan and sing me prouder, CC Rider

Edgar Winter, Joanie Sommers, Osmond Brothers, Johnny Thunders

Eric Clapton, pedal wah-wah, Stephen Foster, do-dah do-dah

Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Surfer Girl and Little Honda

Tighter, tighter, honey, honey, sugar, sugar, yummy, yummy

CBS and Warner Brothers, RCA and all the others

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me

Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me (whoa whoa whoa whoa)

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me

At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie

Listen--remember, they're playing our song!

Rock it, sock it, Alan Freed me, Murray Kaufman, try to leave me

Fish, and Swim, and Boston Monkey,

Make it bad and play it funky.

(Wanna take you higher!)

Freddie King and Albert King

And B.B. King and frolicking...

45Cat Entry - http://www.45cat.com/record/pb10056

The first RCA CD Catalogue - ever! (1983)

In 1983 I was working at RCA Records European office coordinating CD releases.  The format launch first in Japan in October 1982 and then Europe in March the following year had gone so well that there was a worldwide shortage of manufacturing capacity.  RCA had got in on the act quickly and had put out about 20 releases both pop and classical.  Whilst you would normally never see both in the same catalogue, this was produced to entice the audiophiles to buy RCA rather than the dominant Philips catalogue. 

Here is the cover of the first ever CD catalogue from the label.

 (The US launch would occur in October 1983)

Berry Gordy Autograph

Whilst working at RCA in 1986 I sat alongside Jaqueline Buxton who coordinated european marketing campaigns on behalf of the national labels and their licensees.  One such licensee was Motown.

The project she was working on at that time was a box set of vinyl albums called "150 Hits Of Gold".  Motown International had the idea that they would promote the sale of this set by running a competition open to all.  The first prize was an expenses paid trip to LA for a few days, the highlight being a "star studded" party with the Motown stars.  Jacqueline knew I was a huge fan and offered to get me an autograph of any of the stars that would be there.  I said that it wasn't my sort of thing band joked that if the chance arose the only one I would want would be from Berry Gordy - The man who started it all.

The release went ahead and a few weeks later the winners (together with far too many RCA minders from around Europe) boarded the plane to LA.  On the trip JB was told by her more experienced Motown label managers that she wouldn't get to talk to the man and he certainly wouldn't sign an autograph.

As it happened she did and she asked if he would sign something for a huge Motown fan in her office who was working on the Motown CD releases.  He agreed and she ripped a page from her diary and he signed that.

One of my treasured possessions.

The second prize was a copy of the box set.

Many thanks for the members of the 45Cat forum who reminded me of this story
(see forum string)

For the story of the first CDs on Motown go to the page tab at the top of the page

The Gods Of Rockerfeller Plaza

Since my first visit to Manhattan in 1983 I have loved the Rockerfeller Plaza with its mix of people from tourists to serious business types;from shoppers to event organisers; from skaters to serious fashionistas taking lunch.  I love the architecture in its all its grandeur.  It also has happy memories for me - the first time I visited I was on my first trip outside of Europe as RCA had sent me for on a trip regarding the development of the CD market. I was allowed to visit the observation platform (then closed to all but RCA employees) and gazed down the island between the huge letters naming the building and my employer. I visited with my wife and son some years later - he being 10 was in awe of the skyscrapers and all the iconic sites that he had only witnessed from films and TV - he skated on the Plaza ice rink and raced a local guy.  We all stood and watched an older couple ice dance to "Con il Partiro" - romantic and absolutely beautiful. 

The feature that I end up photographing everytime I go is the carvings (obviously not carvings but you know what I mean) above each entrance to the buildings.  This time I also noticed the round emblems on the side elevation of Radio City Music Hall.  Here they are in all their glory.

These are the ones on the side of Radio City Music Hall

New York New York - A Wonderful Town!

First port of call on my recent trip was good old New York.  Arriving on 7th September - a horrible day weather-wise sailing up the estuary in the early morning (clearing under the Verezano bridge by only 30 metres!) past the Statue of Liberty, into the Hudson and past the new Freedom Tower eventually tieing up three berths from the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, which serves as a museum for naval aviation, in the early morning mist and rain.  The City was particularly busy with NY fashion week in full swing and amid preparations for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  We were there for two days - the first was very touristy - using the Gray Line hop-on hop-off bus tour from Broadway to reacquaint ourselves with the City and introduce it to our friends who hadn't been before.  Bloody marvellous!

The Lady emerges from the mist

Battery Park memorial to those who lost their lives on 9/11 - A flag for each name.

I think the City isn't as clean as it was and the weather, heavy traffic (due to the forthcoming events) and the rain all added to that general impression.  Don't get me wrong, I love City life - the hustle bustle of urban existence is great.  The aftermath of Irene perhaps?

We shopped and ate and generally had a great time, starting at South Street Seaport and working our way across SoHo and up through the Village back to Arcadia.  Our friends seperately visited all the sites they could in lower Manhattan  and the Eastside in a day and came back as exhausted as they should have in this iconic City.  Here's some pics from day one.


The second day was a contrast with the humidity and blazing sun returning and the blue sky giving a different view.  We took a trip up the Westside right through to Harlem, walked the Museum Mile and 5th Ave (dissappointingly finding that whilst the £/$ rate is good - US prices have jumped like ours).  We ate well in Rockerfeller Plaza at Ruhlmann's - very good but pricey as you would expect in such a prime spot.  Clothes from Banana Republic for him and from Anthopologie for her. Nostalgia for me of seeing the tower at Rockefeller, the top a tourist site "The Top Of The Rock" but 24 years ago my RCA Europe business card was the only thing that got me to the then private viewing platform on the (then) RCA building.  I also saw the old RCA Records HQ at Ave of the Americas.  Here's some more pics:-

Left:-The Time Warner building, at Columbus Circle, reflecting the glorious blue sky on day two - such a contrast in 24 hours

Below :- The modern Norman Foster extension to a more traditional building - not sure the two go together but love them individually.

We were told this was NY's toilet bowl - I think it's fab - the Guggenheim

At the end of day two we sailed back down the Hudson in the fading evening light and saw the skyline from a new perspective - not great light but great views.

As we left the crew of the USS New York conduct a ceremony on the flight deck (or perhaps a rehearsal?)  The USS New York has steel salvaged from the Twin Towers in its keel for ballast.

The Freedom Tower emerges over the Battery Park Financial District

Goodbye New York!

More to follow....

In Appreciation of.... Daryl Hall And John Oates in the 70s

The first time I heard these guys was when UK radio picked up on "She's Gone" in 1973.  I'm a soul fan so I was hooked.  Investigation of the "Abandoned Luncheonette" Album was a joy.  Produced by Arif Mardin for Atlantic - they delivered a classic which has not been given the credit it deserves.  I love "Laughing Boy" and Everytime I Look At You" which ends with an instrumental run through America - from bluegrass violins and banjos to rock guitar.

They moved forward using Todd Rundgren for "War Babies" resulting in more great songs ("Beanie G and The Rose Tattoo"; "Can't Stop The Music") with a little less smooth production - more pop rock than rock n soul.  "No Goodbyes" was their third and last for Atlantic and included some out takes from the earlier sessions - it was seen as a contract filler by the critics.

Their first album "Whole Oats" is also worth finding - it includes "I'm Sorry" which was later covered by Justin Heyward of the Moody Blues and, "Fall In Philadelphia" again good songs all round. 

A move to RCA followed and the self titled (but known as "the silver album") lp was issued showing a progression of the rock n soul sound.  "Back Together Again" an uptempo opener is a great start but the killer for all was "Sara Smile" a number 1 in the USA; prompting Atlantic to re-issue "She's Gone" which made no 7 in 1976.  "Bigger Than Both Of Us" followed that year with "Rich Girl" being their new signature song.  This was really popular in the UK.  My favourite duo were at last breaking ground here.  Thank goodness as that brought them to the UK and I was able to see a blinding show at the Hammersmith Odeon.  They issued "Beauty On A Back Street" in '77 and this was less immediately accessible but they had grown and tracks like "Winged Bull" showed their development.  I particularly love "Bad Habits And Infections" a grower but worth the investment. 

These two have entries on the Lost Record Covers Club.

Same for "AlongThe Red Ledge" which followed, more rock oriented but delivers.

A continuation of the sound followed but with a nod to disco-dance which was king at the that time was included in "X-Static" which also includes a much lost and forgotten "Running From Paradise" and the hit " Wait For Me" - this track is a brilliant song but the live performance on "Rock n Soul part 1" is better in my opinion.  "Portable Radio" was a turntable hit here in Britain but not released as a single in the US - a mistake.

More about the 80's another time - they are seen as eighties hit makers but their career has a legacy in the 70s which deserves attention.

All these albums are available on CD except "No GoodByes" which is listed on Amazon but rarely in stock - if you see a vinyl copy, it's worth a try.

A Motown Story

In March 1983 I joined the newly formed european office at RCA Records based in London. It was my job to coordinate the production of CDs for the label and convert the existing catalogue to issue CD equivalents.

At that time Motown was being distributed in the US by MCA and licensed to EMI everywhere else in the world. The EMI licences were about to expire.........read on  -  The First Motown on CD