The Beatles ' animated psychedelic fairytale, Yellow Submarine , will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray this May as its 1999 incarnation has gone out of print.  Having been restored by hand, (a detail I lifted from the press release below), the new version of the film will be released with a lot of geek fodder like cels, drawings and interviews.  Also, the movie's 1999 companion release, Yellow Submarine Songtrack , will be reissued as well, (though the actual Yellow Submarine album is all you really need.) All information is brought to you courtesy of EMI.  THE BEATLES’ YELLOW SUBMARINE FEATURE FILM RESTORED FOR MAY RELEASE ON DVD AND BLU-RAY; FILM’S SONGTRACK ALBUM TO BE REISSUED Once upon a time…or maybe twice…there was an unearthly paradise called Pepperland… London – March 20, 2012 – The Beatles’ classic 1968 animated feature film, Yellow Submarine , has been digitally restored for DVD and Blu-ray release on May 28 (May 29 in North America). The film’s songtr...

So, this should be no surprise.  In the ever diminishing world of popular music, a world whose sole intent to earn capital has left it creatively flaccid (yet continuously lucrative in spite of the crumbling record empire), a Grammy to The Beatles (a Best Historical Album win in honor of their 2009 Stereo and Mono Box Sets ) isn't too shocking.  But, as the less deserving continue to earn accolades, a Beatles' win is a victorious one. When The Beatles' Stereo Box Set was released, I was put to the daunting task of reviewing the set for No Ripcord.  It was a three part series.  If you're interesting, here are the links: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3   Also, just for the sake of revisiting one of the greatest moments in my "career" as a music blogger, some information regarding the Beatles' Love mash up is included in the below press release.  I wrote a review for Love months after its release and, somehow, Giles Martin , son of the one and only George ...

John Lennon & Yoko Ono Some Time In New York City Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 6.2.72 Reissued: 10.4.10 John Lennon Mind Games Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 11.16.73 Reissued: 10.4.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

John Lennon John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 12.11.70 Reissued: 10.4.10 John Lennon Imagine Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 9.9.71 Reissued: 10.4.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

So, I’m down to the last hour or so before what would’ve been John Lennon’s 70th birthday. The event has been well publicized over the last couple days, ( even Google came up with a way to commemorate the event ), and Capitoll/EMI has re-released John Lennon’s post-Beatles work in an array of formats, both original and compiled. With the addition of last year’s Beatles’ reissues, this latest “onslaught of Lennon” sums up the entirety of the man’s work. Realizing that this work has been written about, discussed and reconsidered countless times since his death in 1980, Lennon has been somewhat of an obsession for me over the last year, having just finished Philip Norman’s John Lennon: A Life and then the research that went into last year’s three-part “Revolution 9.9.9” series. So, for the month of October, I’ll be writing about the new reissues and the compilations, doing my best to honor and analyze the last century’s most widely respected and well-known songwriter. I dub thee “Le...

' Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Ever heard of a guy named, Stephen Friedland ? If you have, then you know the story behind Brute Force , which was the name Friedland used to record his 1967 album, I, Brute Force — Confections Of Love . This album is being reissued in October by Bar-None Records , having been out of print for over forty years. I’ve never heard the album, but it is a highly regarded, apparently underrated and obviously obscure thanks to its lack of circulation. The big point of interest with the album, though, is “The King Of Fuh,” which is being included in the I, Brute Force reissue as a bonus track. “The King Of Fuh” caught the attention of John Lennon and George Harrison , both of whom issued the song as a single in 1969 via Apple Records. Capitol and EMI refused to distribute the single thanks to Frieland’s tale of the “Fuh King,” so 2,000 copies were released independently by Apple as “Apple 8.” Needless to say, the track is obscure, but I did find a YouTube clip of the single and its B-si...

In late June, I received a press release regarding the John Lennon reissues/compilations that were being released in honor of what would've been his 70th birthday. This time, there are pictures. Read below for more information. Via EMI Press Release: Sweeping Catalogue Initiative Overseen by Yoko Ono and EMI Music Commemorates Lennon's 70th Birthday London, England ­ September 1, 2010 ­ EMI Music unveils today the complete tracklists and cover art for a broad selection of remastered John Lennon albums and new collections to be released on CD and digitally on 4 October (5 October in North America). Announced last month, EMI Music's global John Lennon Gimme Some Truth catalogue campaign is being overseen by Yoko Ono and commemorates the music legend's 70th birthday on 9 October, 2010. Featured in the sweeping initiative are eight remastered John Lennon solo albums and new titles including Double Fantasy Stripped Down, Power To The People: The Hits, Gimme Some Truth ...