I have his DVD, “Chasing Sound,” and would highly recommend it for those of you into music making.

[via LUKE SHERIDAN, AP]

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Les Paul, who invented the solid-body electric guitar later wielded by a legion of rock ‘n’ roll greats, died Thursday of complications from pneumonia. He was 94.

According to Gibson Guitar, Paul died at White Plains Hospital. His family and friends were by his side.

As an inventor, Paul also helped bring about the rise of rock ‘n’ roll with multitrack recording, which enables artists to record different instruments at different times, sing harmony with themselves, and then carefully balance the tracks in the finished recording.

The use of electric guitar gained popularity in the mid-to-late 1940s, and then exploded with the advent of rock in the mid-’50s.

“Suddenly, it was recognized that power was a very important part of music,” Paul once said. “To have the dynamics, to have the way of expressing yourself beyond the normal limits of an unamplified instrument, was incredible. Today a guy wouldn’t think of singing a song on a stage without a microphone and a sound system.”

A tinkerer and musician since childhood, he experimented with guitar amplification for years before coming up in 1941 with what he called “The Log,” a four-by-four piece of wood strung with steel strings.

“I went into a nightclub and played it. Of course, everybody had me labeled as a nut.” He later put the wooden wings onto the body to give it a tradition guitar shape.

In 1952, Gibson Guitars began production on the Les Paul guitar.

Read the full story

Les Paul Dies At Age 94 is a post from: wax&wires

Amazon continues to crush it with great picks on the cheap. I grew up on this one, and if you don’t already have it in your collection, it is a MUST own as one of the most prolific albums of all time.

I had the chance to see Brian Wilson few years back on his Smile tour. As tragic as his story is, he has composed some of the most beautiful songs ever written, and reshaped American pop culture. The vocal harmonies are what The Beach Boys were always known for, but the depth of instrumentation, the layers and textures behind The Beach Boys’ material is staggering. They were way ahead of their time. Think about the fact that this was put out in 1966, one year before Sgt. Pepper. George Martin (The Beatles’ producer) himself even said, “Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper wouldn’t have happened… Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds.” Sort of the opposite to their UK counterparts, The Beach Boys were simple on the top, but had incredible depth behind their music.

Fun Fact: The album art was shot right here in San Diego, at the San Diego Zoo.

Paul McCartney on Pet Sounds:

It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water. I love the album so much. I’ve just bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life … I figure no one is educated musically ’til they’ve heard that album … I love the orchestra, the arrangements … it may be going overboard to say it’s the classic of the century … but to me, it certainly is a total, classic record that is unbeatable in many ways … I’ve often played Pet Sounds and cried. I played it to John [Lennon] so much that it would be difficult for him to escape the influence … it was the record of the time. The thing that really made me sit up and take notice was the bass lines … and also, putting melodies in the bass line. That I think was probably the big influence that set me thinking when we recorded Pepper, it set me off on a period I had then for a couple of years of nearly always writing quite melodic bass lines. “God Only Knows” is a big favourite of mine … very emotional, always a bit of a choker for me, that one. On “You Still Believe in Me”, I love that melody – that kills me … that’s my favourite, I think … it’s so beautiful right at the end … comes surging back in these multi-coloured harmonies … sends shivers up my spine.

Eric Clapton:

I consider Pet Sounds to be one of the greatest pop LPs to ever be released. It encompasses everything that’s ever knocked me out and rolled it all into one.

Elton John:

For me to say that I was enthralled would be an understatement. I had never heard such magical sounds, so amazingly recorded. It undoubtedly changed the way that I, and countless others, approached recording. It is a timeless and amazing recording of incredible genius and beauty.

Pick it up, and under the advice of Mr. Wilson himself, “Listen to Pet Sounds with earphones in the dark.”
The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

Wax Pick: The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds is a post from: wax&wires

The pioneers of shoegazer have added four US tour stops to follow up their April 19th stop in the deserts of California at Coachella. If you can, take advantage of the opportunity to see them in a town near you:

April 19 – Indio, CA
April 21 – Austin, TX
April 22 – Dallas, TX
April 24 – Denver, CO
April 27 – Seattle, WA

I first bought Loveless simply because it was one of those albums that every good indie kid was “supposed” to have. I popped in the CD and seriously thought something was wrong with it. I loved the wall of fuzzed out guitars and distant vocals, but it sounded like the album was warped, which I knew couldn’t happen on a CD. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps the CD master was taken from vinyl or tape that was played back at a varying speed. It didn’t occur to me until later that the band intentionally played with the tape speed, in their true avant garde fashion.

As I listened to the album more and more, trying to pull little bits and pieces of inspiration from it, it really grew on me. And beyond that, MBV was cranking out content this original in 1991, completely influencing some of my favorite bands like Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan himself originally selected Alan Moulder to mix Siamese Dream and produce Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness because of his work with bands like MBV and Slowdive.

I’m pretty amped to see that they’ve added some dates in the US to piggyback on their Coachella performance, and hopefully I’ll be able to catch them either at the festival itself or via a cheap flight to Seattle or Austin.

My Bloody Valentine Adds US Dates On Heels Of Coachella is a post from: wax&wires

Each entry is accompanied by a short commentary from Moon, explaining why it’s in the book. He also includes quotes from various artists that pertain to the recording at hand – “Your collection could be filled with nothing but music from Ray Charles,” said Tom Waits, “and you’d have a completely balanced diet.” Moon also includes key tracks by each artist, other great works to check out, and even has an index in the back of the book to help you find the perfect music for setting the right mood.

Anyway, check it out if you’re looking for a great way to balance out your musical roots, or if you’re just looking for a great, conversation-starting coffee table book.

1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die – Tom Moon

1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die is a post from: wax&wires

If nothing else, you’ll recognize “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” from Kanye’s use of it in his hit Stronger back in 2007. Other classics on Musique, which you’re sure to recognize from various commercials and the like, include Around The World, Technologic, and One More Time.

Get your roots right with some of the pioneers of electronic music, for just $1.99.

Daft Punk – Musique Vol 1

Wax Pick: Daft Punk – Musique Vol 1 is a post from: wax&wires

Check it out the entire list of albums here, and fill out your collection. Definitely pick up the Joshua Tree (Deluxe Edition) if you don’t already have it. There’s a full bonus disc that comes with it that definitely wasn’t included in my original copy of the album, and that’s my favorite U2 album without question.

I’m not sure how long the sale’s on, but enjoy it while it lasts!

U2 Albums On Sale At Amazon is a post from: wax&wires

Related posts:

1. Free Amazon Cloud Drive + Cloud MP3 Player

All of Radiohead’s most popular hits for $5. As most of you know, Radiohead has been one of those bands that have continued to challenge the musical norm; not only compositionally, but also pushing against industry trends by releasing their albums in new structures online. You can catch Thom Yorke and crew performing live at the Grammy’s on February 8th. In the meantime, this is an awesome way to jumpstart your Radiohead collection, since you would otherwise have to buy so many albums to get all of their best songs.

Radiohead – The Best Of

The second album is Depeche Mode’s Violator. Grab all the classics like World In My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence and more for just $5. Depeche Mode did a lot for electronic music’s influence on the pop scene, and you can still see their footprints all over their contemporaries. They were way ahead of their times, to the point where if they released some of this stuff for the first time even today, it would catch on. Shiny Toy Guns, in the article below, actually did a great cover of Stripped a few years back.

Depeche Mode – Violator

Wax Pick(s): Radiohead & Depeche Mode is a post from: wax&wires

13 Year Old Chinese Girl Takes On Rush’s YYZ is a post from: wax&wires

The Verve’s Urban Hymns is on sale at Amazon today for $1.99. This was the album that really propelled them into the spotlight with Bittersweet Symphony, one of the most epic and well known songs of our generation. Richard Ashcroft has been hailed as one of the most prolific songwriters of our time, learn why for $1.99.

The Verve – Urban Hymns

Wax Pick: The Verve – Urban Hymns is a post from: wax&wires

Stevie Wonder’s 1970 Classic, Signed, Sealed And Delivered, is on sale for $1.99 on Amazon today. It’s hard to imagine how somebody could crank out music this good and timeless at just 20 years old, and then you remember that he started when he was just 13 years old… which almost makes it worse that he was so talented so young.

Pick it up. It’s a great feel good album, and Stevie has some of the best songwriting you’ll ever hear; that’s why he’s won 22 Grammy’s and is the legend that he is.

Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed And Delivered

Wax Pick: Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed And Delivered is a post from: wax&wires

In 2008, a flurry of releases arrived to remind us of the inventive vibrancy of the pop music scene . . . of four decades ago.

Albums by the Beatles, Stones, Jimi, Janis, Aretha, Marvin, Otis, Sly, Miles, and Zappa were among the 1968 releases getting major play and press last year. Fortieth anniversary sets reminded us of a time when imaginative artistry ruled the pop charts, revealing numerous creative influences that still permeate our culture.

The music business has changed dramatically in 40 years, but 1968 and 2008 bear comparison. Both were turbulent years with watershed presidential elections, unpopular foreign wars, and major upheaval – social then, financial now. 1968 saw the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., racial tensions, and the ensuing riots; in 2008 we voted our first African-American president into office.

Will the albums on 2008′s best-of lists measure up to the astonishing number of classics from 1968? A few decades from now…

click to read more…

2008 vs 1968: The Year In Music is a post from: wax&wires

Are you kidding me?! I’ve been trying not to inundate you with too many Wax Picks, but I couldn’t pass this one up. 18 of U2′s best songs on sale for $3.99. If you don’t already own their entire catalogue, pick this up from Amazon to get a jump start on the classics.

U2 – U218 Singles

Wax Pick: U2 – U218 Singles is a post from: wax&wires

Who can hate on Ol’ Blue Eyes? If you don’t have this album already, you need to scrape up some cash and get it. If you do have it already, you need to gift it to somebody who doesn’t. This is the album to which all other Christmas albums are measured. Plus, at 5 bucks, you’ll have enough cash left over for some egg nog and a Christmas cookie.

Frank Sinatra – A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra

Wax Pick: Frank Sinatra – A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra is a post from: wax&wires

Get your Christmas Spirit on with a cheap $1.99 special from Amazon. What is it about Christmas time that makes jazz feel like the best kind of music?

Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Wishes You A Merry Christmas

Wax Pick: Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Wishes You A Merry Christmas is a post from: wax&wires

Using the fourier transforms in Melodyne’s Direct Note Access (DNA), developed by Peter Neubacker, Dalhousie University professor Jason Brown was able to uncover that must have been the Beatles’ producer George Martin playing 5 piano notes along with the band to create the infamous chord.

I suppose it was too much just to ask how they played it?

I’ll create a follow up post on DNA itself, and what it can do. In the meantime, here’s the article: http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/10/how-a-professor.html.

Using Math to Decode the Beatles is a post from: wax&wires