Stanley Mouse Album Art

Stanley "Mouse" Miller (born 1940) is an American artist best known for his psychedelic art designs for 1960s rock concert posters, as well as Grateful Dead album cover art. Along with artists Rick Griffin, Alton Kelley, Victor Moscoso, and Wes Wilson, Mouse founded the Berkeley Bonaparte distribution agency in order to produce and sell psychedelic poster art. Mouse and Kelley also worked together from 1971 as lead artists of Mouse Studios and the Monster Company, which produced album cover art for the rock bands Journey and Grateful Dead and hot rod memorabilia respectively.

In 1965 Mouse traveled to San Francisco, California with a group of art school friends. Settling initially in Oakland, Mouse met Alton Kelley. Kelley, a self-taught artist, had recently arrived from Virginia City, Nevada, where he had joined a group of hippies who called themselves the Red Dog Saloon gang. Upon arrival in San Francisco Kelley and other veterans of the gang renamed themselves The Family Dog, and began producing rock music dances. In 1966, when Chet Helms assumed leadership of the group and began promoting the dances at the Avalon Ballroom, Mouse and Kelley began working together to produce posters for the events. Later the pair also produced posters for promoter Bill Graham and for other events in the psychedelic community. Producing posters advertising for such musical groups as Big Brother and the Holding Company, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Grateful Dead led to meeting the musicians and making contacts that were later to prove fruitful.

Mouse and Kelly are credited with creating the skeleton and roses image that became the Grateful Dead's archetypal iconography and Journey's wings and beetles on covers from 1977 to 1980.

The cover for The Steve Miller Band "Book Of Dreams" album won a Grammy Award for the artwork, but even though Mouse and Kelly did the artwork, the award went to the art director, Ray Kahara.

The Blind Faith and Grateful Dead "Go To Heaven" albums, Mouse was the art director for those covers.

www.mousestudios.com

Shepard Fairey Album Art

Propaganda remix artist, graf artist, graphic designer, etc.

Frank Shepard Fairey (born February 15, 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina) is a contemporary artist, graphic designer and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene and became known initially for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston calls him one of today's best known and most influential street artists. He usually omits his first name.

His "Obey" Campaign draws from the John Carpenter movie "They Live" which starred pro wrestler Roddy Piper, taking a number of its slogans, including the "Obey" slogan, as well as the "This is Your God" slogan.

In 2003 he founded the Studio Number One design agency. The agency produced the cover work for the Black Eyed Peas's album Monkey Business and the poster for the film Walk the Line. Fairey has also designed the covers for The Smashing Pumpkins' album Zeitgeist, Flogging Molly's CD/DVD Whiskey on a Sunday, and the Led Zeppelin compilation Mothership, just to name a few.

In 2005 Fairey collaborated with DJ Shadow on a box set, with t-shirts, stickers, prints, and a mix CD by Shadow. In 2006, Fairey contributed eight vinyl etchings to a limited-edition series of 12" singles by alternative rock band Mission of Burma, and has also done work for Interpol.

In 2004, Shepard Fairey co-founded Swindle Magazine with Roger Gastman.

For more information and artwork:
obeygiant.com
www.studionumber-one.com
wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard_Fairey
www.thegiant.org

In addition to album cover art, he has also done some fine art pieces in which he uses silkscreen and mixed media on reclaimed album covers.

And I just had to throw in this incredible piece of iconic artwork, even if not music related...

How To Fix Records

Ovation TV | Blue Note: A History of Modern Jazz

Earlier this year, Ovation TV did a spotlight on Blue Note Records and analog mastering engineer, Stan Ricker.

Ovation TV | Blue Note: A History of Modern Jazz

The story of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff - two Jewish immigrants who founded Blue Note Records, the record label that helped bring jazz music to the mainstream.

Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion, Francis Wolff and Max Margulis. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. Blue Note Records is currently owned by the EMI Group and in 2006 has been expanded to fill the function of an umbrella label group bringing together a wide variety of EMI-owned labels and imprints specializing in the growing market segment of music for adults.

Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk...these names are synonymous with the great Jazz Age. But how many people know Alfred Lion and Frank Wolff, to whom we owe the recorded memory of our Jazz legends? Two German Jews who emigrated from Nazi Germany to New York "discovered" an American art form, which at the time received little serious attention from mainstream America: jazz music. Without money or connections and speaking little English, the two men began to record practically unknown musicians, following their own taste and judgment. Today this list of artists reads like the who's who of jazz. Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz tells the story of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff and their record label. It is the story of the rise of Modern Jazz, of a friendship in exile and of uncompromising artistic excellence. Told by the musicians, by friends and associates, and by fans of the Blue Note recordings from all walks of life, Blue Note recreates an era of American cultural history.

Daylight Saving Time Ends Tonight

Tonight most of us in the U.S. turn our clocks back one hour as Daylight Saving Time comes to it's end and Standard Time begins. I personally do not like Standard Time since it means it now gets darker one hour earlier and makes the days seems so much shorter. I also can't stand changing clocks twice a year. You have to go around the house changing every clock, including the clock on your microwave, the clock in your car, all your watches, etc. SO friggin annoying.

Indie Record Store Thrives

Dynamite Records in NoHo moves to new location with continued success

The indie record store is a piece of Americana that has influenced the lives of adolescents throughout the latter part of the 20th century. It's a home where the smell of vinyl is the only air freshener, and friendships form out of a love for Glenn Danzig. It's a place where local, music-obsessed individuals can interact with others like themselves while surrounded by the thriving force of good music. However, in the age of iPods, MP3s and music piracy, this important piece of American culture is becoming as outdated as hair metal.

One independent record store in Northampton, Mass., won't let the age of iTunes bring them down. Dynamite Records opened in 1982, and is the longest running independent record store in western Massachusetts. Dynamite started in the back of a station wagon in front of the Amherst Post Office, then moved on to spend 20 years in Thornes Marketplace. Recently, it moved to 33 Main Street in Northampton, between Lucky's Tattoo and Piercing and La Veracruzana. When Dynamite was invited to use the store front on Main Street, owner Ronnie Kwon jumped at the opportunity.

"We spent 20 years in Thornes, and we had really outgrown it," said Kwon. "We wanted a more visible location, since Dynamite had become a local secret that was difficult to find."

The store is as cozy as any home, with hardwood floors and an actual living room display in the front window, and an array of artists swarming the shelves. Dynamite Records specializes in new and used vinyl records, but also carries a wide variety of new and used CDs, pins, patches and posters.

"There's a lot of love in Dynamite Records, and that's why I love it," said Kwon. "I love records; I love the way they look, the way they sound, the way they feel, just everything about them."

The music industry is at a noteworthy place at this point in time. With the emergence of MP3s and digital file sharing, shelves containing a music library have been reduced to a hard drive that can crash at any time. The current echo boomer generation has taken creativity and good music for granted. Many people have substituted quality for convenience, and face-to-face communication for computers. Buying music online is nothing like going into a store and having the power to listen to everything happening around you.

"Independent record stores allow us to bypass what's playing on the top 40 and fill our ears with something real, something with heart," said UMass senior and psychology major, Rachel Schein. "It'll change your perspective on what music's all about."

However, it seems as if more and more people are trading the experience of a record store for the cheap thrill of a download timer. It has been proven however, that MP3s have a far worse sound quality than CDs or even records. In order to fit an MP3 onto an MP3 player, the file from a CD has to be compressed to an extremely small size. As a result, the song may sound much different, and small subtleties, like key changes, can't be detected by the listener. Yet many people, both young and old, are standing by their vinyl. Kwon has faith in his store and doesn't believe he'll lose many customers as a result of this new technology.

"There's always going to be change," said Kwon. "I think you have to learn to adapt and evolve and know that people still value music. We choose our standards and we have a lot of loyal customers."

One can truly feel at ease and at home inside Dynamite. There's always good music playing as the gazes of Siouxsie Sioux and Robert Smith look down from displayed posters. The store has a very relaxed atmosphere, where no one peers over your shoulder and you're allowed to be with the music in your own way.

"I think independent record stores are a good idea; keeps the small businesses up and running, and the awareness that records are still being produced and used," said Hampshire College student Taylor "Matchstick" McNeilly. "[Records have] a very different quality of sound, and are definitely enjoyable. I'm glad such places as Dynamite Records are still around, because it really lends something to the culture."

Dynamite Records also tries to help local artists obtain success by offering them a place to perform. The shop often has artists perform in the store itself or in the display windows. This gesture is how Mr. Kwon and his employees give back to the community.

"I feel like there are fewer opportunities than before for local artists to get out there," said Kwon. "Even in New York, there aren't a lot of places where local artists can perform. Music is such an important part of people's lives and of important value in communities. Dynamite Records has always been a community store and will always be a community store."

While Kwon is giving back to the artists, the artists are giving back to the record stores. Record Store Day, which will be celebrated on April 18, 2009, aims to make people more aware of the culture and history that record stores have.

On their Web site, Recordstoreday.com, Boston native Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls said, "My early record shopping experiences were my musical backdrop… it's not just the ability to touch, see and smell an album and the artwork ... it's the fact that you're in a real place with real people ... you can't get that feeling sitting behind your computer, ever."

Kwon doesn't wait for April to celebrate his love of music. To him, every day is Record Store Day.

"I just hope people still enjoy the experience of buying music," he said. "If you don't know what that is, come on in and we'll show you."

Independent record stores, their employees and their loyal customers are filled with a passion for music. They do more than just hear music; they can see it and feel it. It's a part of them. To them, shopping for music is more than just retail therapy, it's a ritual. It's not something they do, but something they experience. Independent record stores are alive today because of the people who want to have that experience.

Dynamite Records is located at 33 Main Street in Northampton.

[Daily Collegian]

DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2008

European DJ magazine, DJ Mag, has announced this year's Top 100 DJ's. As you can tell, it's very biased towards European DJ's as well as trance music.

DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2008

01. Armin van Buuren

02. Tiësto
03. Paul van Dyk
04. Above & Beyond
05. David Guetta
06. Ferry Corsten
07. Sasha
08. Markus Schulz
09. John Digweed
10. Infected Mushroom
11. Deadmau5
12. Carl Cox
13. Sander van Doorn
14. Paul Oakenfold
15. Richie Hawtin
16. Hernan Cattaneo
17. James Zabiela
18. Andy Moor
19. Eddie Halliwell
20. Axwell
21. Eric Prydz
22. Kyau & Albert
23. Gareth Emery
24. Sven Väth
25. ATB
26. Anderson Noise
27. Joachim Garraud
28. Bobina
29. Fedde le Grand
30. Dubfire
31. Aly & Fila
32. Judge Jules
33. Umek
34. Matt Darey
35. Ricky Stone
36. Ricardo Villalobos
37. Lange
38. Daft Punk
39. Benny Benassi
40. Bob Sinclair
41. Deep Dish
42. Mark Knight
43. Astrix
44. Marco V
45. The Thrillseekers
46. Laidback Luke
47. Danny Tenaglia
48. Menno de Jong
49. Marco Lenzi
50. Andy C
51. Offer Nissim
52. Martin Solveig
53. Adam Sheridan
54. Sean Tyas
55. DJ Feel
56. Yahel
57. Roger Sanchez
58. DJ Shah
59. Sander Kleinenberg
60. John O’Callaghan
61. Blank & Jones
62. Cosmic Gate
63. Steve Angello
64. Simon Patterson
65. Gabriel & Dresden
66. Richard Durand
67. Laurent Wolf
68. Matt Hardwick
69. Chris Liebing
70. Erick Morillo
71. DJ Hype
72. Signum
73. Justice
74. Dirty South
75. Wally Lopez
76. Magda
77. Lisa Lashes
78. Pete Tong
79. DJ Vibe
80. Bad Boy Bill
81. Tiddey
82. Greg Downey
83. Marcel Woods
84. Nick Warren
85. Solar System
86. Skazi
87. Mike Koglin
88. Mauro Picotto
89. Sébastien Léger
90. The Chemical Brothers
91. Steve Lawler
92. Fatboy Slim
93. Solarstone
94. Astral Projection
95. Leon Bolier
96. Nic Fanciulli
97. Ronski Speed
98. Tocadisco
99. Booka Shade
100. Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Woody van Eyden

Get Them Started Early ...

DJ Toys for the Kids. Some holiday ideas for the young ones.

DJ Battle Mix Electronic Game of Makin' the Music
Play against a friend or play against the machine.
Head-to-Head electronic game of making music and mixing it up
The game with its' own MC inside
The game where you have to play back the moves your opponent makes
Use the disks and the sound slide to scratch a tune
For 1 or 2 players / Requires 3 "AA" batteries - not included

DJ Scratch CD Mixer with Radio
For rap artists or DJs in the making, this Scratch CD Mixer is a great addition to any party. Features five loop effects and sound effects; cassette recorder and CD player; microphones, professional sliding DJ controls, and even a spinning disco ball! Requires 6 "C" batteries (not included). Measures 21"L x 11.5"W x 5.5"H.
The Kidsway DJ scratch CD mixercan record music and sound effects with the use of a cassette tape
Young DJs get to scratch, mix and match sounds with five loop effects, five sound effects,
The spinning disco ball creates the right atmosphere with spinning lights everywhere!

Jumpin’ Banana Finger Beats DJ Mixer Portable Music System
Mix Music Like A DJ! Make Music With The Tap Of Your Finger! Features: Touch Sensitive Game Play. Backing Tracks to play along to. Record and Play your own tracks. MP3 Input: Play along to your favorite music. Headphone Jack: Keep your sounds to yourself (Headphones Included). 16 Sample Beats. Scratch Button: Get your beats pumping with different scratches. Record Button: Save your beats to play again. Playback Button: Plays back the beats you saved. Stop Button: Turns off all sounds. Switch Button: Choose between 2 different sets of sample beats. Music On The Go!
Includes touch sensitive pads, backing tracks and MP3 lead headphones
Great for kids
Tracks to play along to record and play your own tracks
Headphone jack lets you keep your sounds to yourself
Play Time of Less Than 30 Minutes
Batteries Included: 4 AAA Batteries

Children's Electronic Music D.J. & Scratch Mixer
Let's get this party started! Children's Electronic Music D.J. & Scratch Mixer Keyboard. Enjoy 'scratchingdiscs to the beat' with this great mixer. Move and grove to the beat with six different rhythms, two turntables, volume and tempo control. Perfect for ages 4 & up. Great gift idea!

DJ Mixer by Lollipop
All the bells and whistles of a high-tech studio! Little DJs find their groove mixing 32 sound effects, 24 rhythms, and 12 scratch effects. Wow: includes pro-style mixing pad, disc scratcher, and keyboard with 9 instrument sounds! With built-in bass speaker, headset mic, and volume control. And yes, you can record your creations, too. Requires 6 "AA" batteries (sold separately). For ages 6 and up.

Polly Pocket Stylin' Pose Rick as Dj Doll Set by Mattel
Totally posable!
Style his hair!
8 x 3 x 6 inches ; 12.8 ounces

Barbie At the Hop Action Musical
This music "box" looks like an antique record player with barbie and ken dancing on the records. plays at the hop as they dance

Wax Museum

Documentary style view of the art of collecting vinyl. Featuring DJ CAPSIZE as he interviews friends and strangers on a search for the answer to "what is the future of records?"

Watch the video here: