At First So Strange To Feel So Friendly…

To say good morning and really mean it
To feel these changes happening in me
But not to notice till I feel it. [Read more]

Check Out The Official Movie Trailer For Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock”

The much anticipated film debuts in August - one day before the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock - and it’s “inspired by a true story”.  The movie poster seems to be inspired more by Bill Graham/Fillmore concert posters than Woodstock.  Groovy, but those were hard enough to read back in the day. Forty years later?  Far out man.  That might be the distance you need to hold anything you read these days.  And if it’s written in psychedelic script?  Fuggedaboudit.

ORIGINAL WOODSTOCK POSTERS:

“Box Of Vision” Presents The Beatles - On Your Coffee Table

Former Capitol Records COO Jonathan Polk speaks to ClassicRockForever about his stunning new Beatles “Box Of Vision” which was recently previewed at The Fest For Beatles Fans in New Jersey to a very enthusiastic audience.

CRF: So, we’ve seen the product on your website… it looks gorgeous.  It’s actually 3 books in one …isn’t it?

JP:  Exactly.  The one that is getting the most attention here, and rightly so, is the album artwork book. It’s the first coffee table book to contain all of THE BEATLES’ album artwork– both the UK and US versions– and its all newly restored, pristine, LP size prints.

CRF: When you say album artwork, you’re not just talking about the front covers …you’re talking about back covers, inside artwork, booklets – the works.

JP: Correct, virtually everything that was included in the original LPs. The entire Magical Mystery Tour booklet, for example.  The expanded LP size artwork and booklets from all of the CD era releases– so people like you and I can finally read the liner notes without going blind! It’s 200 pages of brilliantly restored art.

CRF: You said  “restored” artwork.  It’s the best I’ve seen – with or without the reading glasses. It seems better than what the CDs themselves have …and these are all LP size.  How were you able to accomplish that one?

JP: Well, under license from Apple Corps Limited, I was allowed to restore the original artwork, using a number of archival sources… being careful to stay true to the original art but, using current technology to bring out the best in the prints. 

CRF: I bet that was a long and winding – nope, I’m not going to make the first lame “song-pun”.  Let me rephrase – I bet it took a lot of time and work….

JP: It did, but if you look at the result, it was worth it.  All I have heard from people here all weekend– and these are devoted Beatle fans who have seen everything– is “wow” and “this is fantastic.” So I know we succeeded.

CRF: Now the second book is a discography of sorts?

JP: Yes.  We call it “Catalography” and it is a presentation and walk through the UK and US Beatles catalogs in photos and text– showing side-by-side the corresponding albums and track-listings, explaining what is different and why. 

CRF: That’s great because even the most devoted fans get confused once in a while… including a definitive guide is a nice touch.  

Yes. And I must point out that the text was written by Bruce Spizer, the noted Beatles authority and author. 

CRF: And tax attorney…

JP: Yes, in New Orleans.  He is a great guy and he did an incredible job here.

CRF: And finally, the third book is a CD storage book.

JP: Right… I designed and patented a unique storage book organizing and displaying the entire Beatles core catalog– all 32 CDs and CD booklets.  If you go to our website, www.boxofvision.com there is a virtual tour that shows you how this works– how all of the discs and booklets –even digipaks– can be stored and displayed on five sleek page spreads.

CRF: And this whole package, all three books – ok, I can’t resist - come together - in a coffee table “Box.”

JP: Yes. It all comes in an elegant, black linen-covered box, 13 inches high and wide, 3 inches deep. On the front is a beautiful new print of the iconic Robert Freeman photo used for the With the Beatles and Meet the Beatles album covers– and on the spines, something that got a lot of great reaction here, are “faux” LP spines that makes the box look like your collection of BEATLES LPs.

CRF: When we talked in the past, I was under the impression that this was going to sell for a few hundred dollars but you’re actually selling this whole package–all three books, in the box– for $64?

JP: It’s for a limited time. The product will not be released until August, so that price is for pre-orders. That price is only good until April 30, after which the price will go up significantly. Of course, no ones credit card gets charged until their Box ships in August. Even better, for an even more limited amount of time we are selling an individually numbered limited edition for the same $64 price. 

I want this product to become an essential piece for every Beatles fan– which I think it is, for the artwork book alone. I wanted it to be priced so it was in reach of as many fans as practical.  And while I’m doing market research in anticipation of a broad release in the fall, I decided to make it a “steal”– something I’ve heard quite a few fans saying.  And anyone who goes to www.boxofvision.com and pre-orders before May 1, can take advantage of the discounted price.

CRF:  I hope my kids read this because Father’s Day is coming

JP:  That reminds me!  When you buy the Box as a gift, we have an e-card you can send whenever you want to tell them what you bought them– and it embodies our virtual tour so they can see it as well….

CRF:  One last thing - “64” – real clever.

JP:  Yep…I couldn’t help myself either.

Never In My Life

The ClassicRockForever community’s response to “Will you ever be too old to rock?”  …“Will you ever stop turning up the volume?” and other annoying boomer clichés:  ”NEVER IN MY LIFE.”

Leslie West - Never In My Life - recorded live in London.  Simply awesome.

Go ahead - Crank It Up.

Note:  Can also be used as a response to “What? They really used to play tunes by Mountain other than Mississippi Queen on the radio? C’mon name one.”

Carlos Santana Live: What Happens In Vegas - Stays In Vegas For The Next Two Years

Beginning on May 27th, The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will be “the only place west of the Mississippi” to see Carlos Santana play live through 2010 as he debuts Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits.  Read the the entire story here.

Bad Company Hits The Road This Summer With “Can’t Get Enough” Reunion Tour

The one -night-only reunion of surviving Bad Company members Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke and Mick Ralphs on June 17th in Seminole, FL has morphed into a short, ten city summer tour …stopping mostly on the East Coast.  Read more about it and get tour dates here.

Hard Rock Comes To Woodstock: 40th Anniversary Celebration Kicks Off With “Rock Heroes” Exhibit At The Museum Of Bethel Woods

August of 2009 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. Leading the nation in commemorating this cultural milestone will be Bethel Woods Center for the Arts www.BethelWoodsCenter.org, situated at the site of the historic festival in Bethel, NY and home to The Museum at Bethel Woods, which celebrates Woodstock and the 1960s.      

The Museum will kick off the anniversary season with a brand-new special exhibit courtesy of Hard Rock International. Beginning March 28, Museum visitors can experience Rock Heroes: Selections from the Hard Rock International Memorabilia Collection, which features authentic pieces of Woodstock memorabilia from Hard Rock’s unparalleled collection. This one-of-a-kind traveling exhibit will debut at The Museum at Bethel Woods.

Highlights from Hard Rock’s Woodstock collection include:


 
·        Pete Townshend Guitar – The Gibson SG Special is the guitar that Pete Townshend played and smashed at Woodstock in 1969.

  
·        Jimi Hendrix Vest – A red velvet vest with a gold embroidered trim worn by Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s.

  
·        Neil Young Guitar – The vintage cherry burst custom Les Paul guitar was owned and signed by Neil Young.


   ·        Joe Cocker Jacket – The blue blazer that was worn and signed by Joe Cocker.

  
·        Sha Na Na Silver Jacket – The silver lame zip-up jacket was worn by Sha Na Na during many stage performances.


   ·        Sly & The Family Stone Shirt – The black and copper shirt was worn on stage by Sly Stone during many stage performances.
 


Music fans, history buffs, families, baby boomers, schools, regional residents and travelers can enjoy the Rock Heroes exhibit from March 28 – May 30, 2009. The exhibit will be located in the Museum’s Special Exhibition Gallery.

Since it was established in 1971, Hard Rock has been committed to a wide variety of philanthropic causes and activities around the world. In that spirit, Hard Rock has created the “Woodstock Festival 40th Anniversary Limited-edition Pin” to benefit The Museum at Bethel Woods. Fifteen percent of all retail sales of the pin will go to benefit The Museum at Bethel Woods. The commemorative pin will be available at www.ShopBethelWoods.com <http://www.ShopBethelWoods.com> or www.hardrock.com <http://www.hardrock.com/> , and the Bethel Woods Museum Shop and Hard Rock Cafe New York’s Rock Shop.

In addition to the Rock Heroes exhibit, The Museum has also commissioned the well-known Orange County Choppers to build a commemorative Woodstock-themed motorcycle.  The bike will be featured on the upcoming season of TLC’s “American Chopper <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Chopper> ” this April. The bike will also be featured in The Museum’s Special Exhibition Gallery, but will remain on display throughout 2009.

Complete information about the 40th anniversary programming and special promotions will be announced later this spring and available online at www.BethelWoodsCenter.org

The Museum at Bethel Woods is now open to the public for its second season.

Ticket Prices:  Adults-$13; Seniors 65 and up-$11; Youth (ages 8-11)-$9; Child (ages 3-7)-$4; Children 2 and under – free admission with an adult.

2009 Spring Hours
Thursday, March 19 thru Friday May 22, 2009
Open Thursday - Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00pm

2009 Summer Hours
Saturday, May 23 thru Monday, September 7, 2009
Open seven days a week, 10:00am to 7:00pm


2009 Fall Hours
Thursday, September 10 thru Sunday, January 3, 2010
Open Thursday - Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm

 

Special holiday open hours Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, 2009, 10:00am - 5:00pm and Monday, December 28 thru Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 10:00am - 5:00pm.

Open year-round with advanced reservations for school groups, group tours, and special private events.

Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Special holiday open hours.

Museums tickets will be sold each day until one and one-half hours before closing time on regular open days and until one hour before concert start time on typical concert days at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts performing arts pavilion. Please call ahead to verify museum hours on concert days.

Admission to both the Rock Heroes and Orange County Chopper special exhibits is included in the regular admission price.  Tickets may be purchased at the Bethel Woods box office, at www.BethelWoodsCenter.org or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.  Museum admission may also be added on to your purchase of any Bethel Woods concert ticket.