nice package

First, I'd like to apologize for being smacked down with a terrible cold over the last few days. I know how an adoring, online public feels when one of their favorite sites goes dormant for a couple of days. Thanks for reaching out to The Rewind during our downtime. Stocks of NyQuil and Kleenex went up this week. Now onto what matters most - the music!

When you're a rabid record collector like I am, packaging becomes part of the listening experience. When vinyl was the main configuration, listening to an album became more than just an aural experience. It was a tactile activity. Removing the LP from the sleeve. Reading the liner notes. Soaking in the photographic and design elements.

As packaging became smaller with the advent of the CD, some artists embraced the medium and came up with fantastic ways to embellish their musical content.

Now that CDs are so last century, artwork has become even less important, it seems, in the age of digital delivery. But there are a few groups that continue to take advantage of the graphic design medium and push the boundaries across all configurations. Pet Shop Boys is one of those groups.

Having just released "Yes", their tenth longplayer, in the UK, and soon to follow in the US on April 21, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe always manage to unleash their artistic expression well beyond the zeros and ones of digital data.

Never ones to shy away from the constraints of typical packaging, they've outdone themselves this time with a lavish and expansive, vinyl edition of "Yes" which was announced this week to their salivating, dedicated fan base. And it's mighty pricey!  

Designed by longtime, artwork collaborator, Mark Farrow, the vinyl set is strictly limited to a pressing of only 300 pieces. Even with a $450 price point, it sold out within hours. 

Each of the eleven tracks of the album is featured on one side of a 12" record while the instrumental of each, which is exclusive to this format, is on the other side. A twelfth sleeve contains a numbered, giclee print signed by the duo.  All of the elements are housed in a smoked, perspex box.  The front of the box is emblazoned with a gold version of a tick - that's a check mark for our US readers.  The iconic, tick image features on the CD cover art of "Yes".

Have a look at the gorgeousness.  







In a stroke of clever genius, the colored sleeves can be arranged in order to recreate an eight foot, tick mark image.  For you art aficionados, the random, color imagery was inspired by the work of contemporary artist, Gerhard Richter.  Watercooler alert!

PSB are no stranger to intricate packaging for their albums.  For instance, "Alternative", their 1995 collection of b-sides, featured one of the first uses of lenticular art.  It's often incorrectly referred to as a holographic image. Remember those old baseball cards that looked as if the player was in motion when you moved it from one position to another?  That's lenticular.

I love it when I'm able to grab the iPhone and do a little real time photography for The Rewind. But wait!  There's more to come a little further down this entry.

Recently, Time Life incorporated lenticular art into the firehouse, collector's box packaging fo  "The Real Ghostbusters" 25 DVD set. Watch Slimer and his friends flash back and forth when you move the box from side to side!

Fancy packaging is a lot like designing furniture for your living space. Whereas tactile textiles can make a room more inviting, the same goes for CD artwork. You want your pop to pop! Your rock to roll! 

For PSB, they took touchy feely to whole new level when they released their album, "Very", in 1993. Housed in an opaque, bright orange case with raised dots and lettering, Chris and Neil threw EMI's manufacturing plants into a frenzy with their landmark, packaging concept which resembles Lego building blocks. 

Let's face it, kids.  These days, something needs to make a product appealing outside the musical contents.  The look and feel must make it stand out from the static. That philosophy is lovingly embraced by our friends at Time Life. And everything is very reasonably priced, too. Check out the packaging on these hot properties!

They've got the retro 50s, soda jerk pizazz of "Malt Shop Memories".

Then there's the hot rockin', metal, diamond plate design of "Hard + Heavy".

And we can't forget the plush, red velvet luxury of "Great American Songbook". It's 10 CDs of sophistication and romance from the golden era of American song.  Rub your hands all over this baby!

The design for the "Great American Songbook" collection was inspired by the original, double vinyl LP packaging for the Bee Gees' 1969 masterwork, "Odessa".



Recently, "Odessa" was reissued in a lavish, 3 CD set replica of the original packaging to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its release. But the little CD box doesn't quite carry the same sizzle as the original LP edition. Still, it's a fabu piece for any collector.

The design options are nearly limitless at Time Life.  Inspiration is pulled in from all over the globe. Maybe they should shoot a reality show about it.  Kind of like their version of "Project Runway".  Killer!

how Swede it is

This week, twenty years ago, Roxette bounced into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with their spiky ode to fashion, "The Look". Rather than becoming another one hit wonder, Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson went on to score four #1 singles in the US and countless hits in the rest of the world. What makes them unique is their homeland of Sweden. T

Roxette are only one of seven acts to emerge from the Scandinavia nation with hits placed on the US singles chart. Of all seven, four of them had #1 hits. Roxette's four #1 hits include "The Look", "Listen To Your Heart", "It Must Have Been Love" and "Joyride".  ABBA went to the top with "Dancing Queen" in 1977. Blue Swede enjoyed a brief trip to the summit in 1974 with their cover of B. J. Thomas' 1968 hit, "Hooked On A Feeling". And Ace Of Base was the last act to fly the flag for their country during two separate stays at #1 in 1994 with "The Sign".

Here's a visual representation of the seven Swedish #1 singles in the United States.  Say that six times fast!

"Hooked On A Feeling" - Blue Swede (1974)

"Dancing Queen" - ABBA (1977)

"The Look" - Roxette (1989)

"Listen To Your Heart" - Roxette (1989)

"It Must Have Been Love" - Roxette (1990)

"Joyride" - Roxette (1991)

"The Sign" - Ace Of Base (1994)



Of course, we can't forget two other significant entries in the Swedish star brigade.  In 1986, Europe peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their apocalyptic pop hit, "The Final Countdown", the first single from their third longplayer.



A full ten years after Europe destroyed a good chuck of the ozone layer with their hairspray display, The Cardigans invaded the airwaves in 1996 with "Lovefool" which, in a neat bit of synchronicity with Europe, also featured as the first single from their third album.  The song also featured in the blockbuster film, "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet".

However, in a chart hiccup, "Lovefool" never appeared on the Billboard Hot 100. During a brief period time in the 90s, any song released to radio stations without a physical configuration made available to purchase was ineligible to chart.  

And now the pitch... Did you think we'd forget? If you'd like to own a little slice of Sweden, check out Time Life's "Billboard #1 Hits Of The 70s" collection.  It includes the aforementioned singles from Blue Swede and ABBA along with 140 other #1 hits from the decade.  

For a rockin' good time, pick up "Hard + Heavy", the 10 CD set which features "The Final Countdown" and other headbanging hits from Europe like "Carrie" and "Rock The Night".

And if your tastes run a little more current and you're looking for something that takes up less space in your CD collection, you'll find "Lovefool" by The Cardigans on "90s Rock", a 2 CD set featuring 32 of the biggest rock hits from the decade between the 80s and new millennium.

this much is true

Seems like every band on earth is reuniting every other week. Today, after 20 years apart, 80s faves and my good friends, Spandau Ballet announced their Reformation Tour for 2009. They will be playing venues around the UK and Ireland in the autumn.

Always one of the most underrated bands of the 80s, they went toe to toe with Duran Duran's success across Europe and Japan.  In the UK they released 6 albums and 22 singles.  Seventeen of those singles charted in the top 40 with 10 of them reaching the top 10.

In the US, they had a more muted chart career with their signature hit, "True", peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Because we're just a little insane, The Rewind will make a pilgrimage to the UK in October to see SB perform at London's O2 arena.  Watch this space!

Since you can't get enough eyeliner, hairspray, tartan capes and shoulder pads, here's a video blitz from Spandau Ballet.

"True"



"Gold"



"Only When You Leave"



"Instinction"



"Highly Strung"



"Through The Barricades"

"True", is a bona fide classic and a staple of many Time Life collections. If you fancy yourself a connoisseur of pop music from the 80s, then check out "80s Music Explosion", where you'll find "True" alongside 149 other hits from the Reagan era.  And if you're less into neon and more into mellow, then you'll find "True" on "Classic Soft Rock", a 10 CD set of laid back tunes from the 70s and 80s.

streams of consciousness

Last week, I forgot to mention that the #1 single in the UK was a cover version of "Islands In The Stream" which is a cover of the duet between Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was originally a #1 hit in the US on both the pop and country charts. In the UK, it was only able to reach #7.

The cover version which sat atop the UK singles chart last week was credited to Vanessa Jenkins and Bryn West featuring Tom Jones and Robin Gibb.  For those not in the know, Vanessa Jenkins and Bryn West are characters played by actors Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon in the British TV comedy, "Gavin & Stacey". Both cameos from Tom Jones and Robin Gibb are added into the mix for further comedic effect. The proceeds from the purchase of the single go to the Comic Relief charity.

I've included the full nine minute version of the video below. For some reason, the shorter versions have had their embedding features disabled. If you want to skip right to the song, start around the 4:22 mark.



And because you can never get too much of a good thing, here's a clip of the original Kenny and Dolly duet.



By topping the UK charts last week, "Islands In The Stream" has ensured that a song written by the Bee Gees has been #1 in each of the last FIVE decades. It's a quite sensational feat, one that is unmatched by any other songwriting partnership. Not even Lennon and McCartney have been able to match the consistency shown by the Brothers Gibb. 

The only other songwriters with a similar record are Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA who also penned songs which made #1 in the 70s, 80s and 90s and received a songwriting credit on Madonna's "Hung Up" in 2005 which sampled their own "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".

So, what have been the #1 hit singles in the UK written by the Bee Gees over the last five decades? Glad you asked. In chronological order they are:

1960s

"Massachusetts" - Bee Gees (1967)

"I've Gotta Get A Message To You" - Bee Gees (1968)

1970s

"Night Fever" - Bee Gees (1978)

"Tragedy" - Bee Gees (1979)

1980s

"Woman In Love" - Barbra Streisand (1980)

"Chain Reaction" - Diana Ross (1986)

"You Win Again" - Bee Gees (1987)

1990s

"How Deep Is Your Love" - Take That (1996)

"Words" - Boyzone (1996)

"Tragedy" - Steps (1998)

2000s

"Islands In The Stream" - Vanessa Jenkins and Bryn West featuring Tom Jones and Robin Gibb (2009)

The Bee Gees are a regular favorite around The Rewind office. You should hear us doing "Jive Talkin'" at karaoke happy hour on a Friday!  Anyway, we are often reminded how phenomenal their songwriting prowess often is just by some of the regular tunes that pop up on on various Time Life collections. For instance, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" is featured on "Romancing The 70s", a 10 CD set of the romantic classics. "How Deep Is Your Love" sits nestled among 167 other mellow hits on the 10 CD "Classic Soft Rock" collection. And an early 60s gem from the Brothers Gibb, "I Started A Joke", with Robin Gibb on lead vocal, is included alongside other trippy, hippy hits on "Flower Power", a 10 CD set featuring the finest music from the love generation.

No matter what decade you dig, the Bee Gees keep the world spinning on its musical axis.

in flight entertainment

35 years ago marked a cultural shift in music when the mighty Jefferson Airplane changed its name to Jefferson Starship. These days they call that "rebranding". They weren't happy with changing their name just once. Ten years after their first rebranding, they rose from the ashes of internal squabbling under the shortened Starship moniker.

As Jefferson Airplane, they epitomized the Haight-Ashbury scene in the 60s with such psychedelic classics as "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit", which showcased lead singer, Grace Slick, and her far out lyrics.

Now for the product promotion portion of our program! You can't TiVo this stuff folks. At least we make it enjoyable and give you a good laugh at our expense. We're always thinking about ways to make your reading experience an enjoyable one while keeping the corporate machine grinning.

So back to JA. You can find "White Rabbit" on any compilation. But the only place you can find it nestled amongst all of the wild, trippy, groovy sounds of the late 60s and early 70s is "Flower Power", Time Life's 10 CD psychedelic, summer of love extravaganza.

Now, back to the drama.  In 1974, Jefferson Airplane, seemingly always in the midst of turmoil, decided to change their name to the more forwardly mobile, Jefferson Starship.  

After founding member, Marty Balin, left in 1971, Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen followed his lead in 1972. Casady and Kaukonen wanted to concentrate on their successful, new, musical venture, Hot Tuna. After their departure, the Airplane flew off into the horizon with the release of a live album in 1973 followed by their final longplayer, "Early Flight", a compilation of previously unreleased recordings. The stage was set for the launch of Jefferson Starship. 

Jefferson Starship's arrival appeared in the shape of "Dragon Fly" which featured one song, "Caroline", with lead vocals sung by Marty Balin. By 1975, Marty Balin decide to come back to the fold full time and joined co-founder, Paul Kanter, and Grace Slick in the newly christened, Jefferson Starship for their second album, "Red Octopus". That #1 album included the classic single, "Miracles", which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. JS was in full flight.

Unfortunately, I could only find a lame clip of "Miracles" on YouTube which only features the song paired with the album cover of "Red Octopus". 

And that leads us nicely into our next commercial break, ladies and gentlemen. "Miracles", one of the sweet ballads usually associated with Marty Balin's mellow vocal delivery, is one of 168 other sun soaked, soft rock songs on the "Classic Soft Rock" collection. Its 11 CDs feature the finest soft rock singles of all time!

By 1978, the sound of soft rock was in full swing and Marty Balin decided it was time to fly solo.  Grace Slick split from Jefferson Starship around the same time leaving original member, Paul Kanter, to carry on and recruit a new vocalist, Mickey Thomas, who, up to that point, was famous as the lead singer on Elvin Bishop's #3 hit single from 1976, "Fooled Around And Fell In Love". (By the way, you can find "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" on the "Classic Soft Rock" collection, as well. Just a little side note FYI!)

Now try to follow this story from here. It gets super gonzo crazy. By 1984, Paul Kanter moved on and assembled the KBC Band with original Jefferson Airplane members, Marty Balin and Jack Casady. In a strange twist, Mickey Thomas and JS guitarist, Craig Chaquico, dropped the Jefferson and recruited Grace Slick for their new rebranded band, Starship.  

Together, with the production power of producer Peter Wolf, they rocketed into the stratosphere with their 1985 album, "Knee Deep In The Hoopla".  Starship became darlings of the MTV era with big budget videos for hits like "We Built This City" (a huge, #1 hit co-written by Elton John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin), "Sara" (another #1 smash), "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (#26 in 1986), "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (a #1 hit from the forgettable movie, "Mannequins" ) and "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)" (a #9 hit from their second longplayer, "No Protection").   

And now your third and final promotional push. Many of the aforementioned hits by Starship can be conveniently found in good company on "80s Music Explosion", a magnificent 10 CD set featuring some of the most memorable, neon painted numbers from the era that gave birth to the music video. The collection even comes in a fancy collector's box! How's that for a little bang for your buck?

By 1988, Starship had run out of steam and Nirvana was waiting just around the corner. But for nearly 25 years, the Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship trifecta gave the world more amazing, era defining hits than most bands could ever dream of producing.

ghostly anniversary

This year marks the 25th anniversary of "Ghostbusters", the mega blockbuster film staring Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver. For those too young to remember, it's a comedy about three, eccentric, New York City parapsychologists who decide to dedicate their lives to the extermination of ghosts. 

If you're a numbers kind of person, you'll be jazzed to know that "Ghostbusters" is the 31st highest grossing film of all time in the US.  There's your watercooler topic for the day, trivia junkies!

Ray Parker Jr. too the theme song to "Ghostbusters" all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.  It was so successful that it achieved what very few songs can.  Part of the lyric became part of the cultural lexicon.  "Who ya gonna call?" was the overused catchphrase of the year.  It leaves us wondering.  Why hasn't a cellphone carrier co-opted this phrase for ads targeted to the over 40 set?  

Shortly after the movie and its 1989 sequel, "Ghostbusters II", the brand extensions began and thus, "The Real Ghostbusters", an animated television series, was born.    It ran from 1986 to 1991 and continued the adventures of paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore, Dr. Ray Stantz, their secretary Janine Melnitz and their mascot ghost, Slimer. 

Now, for the first time ever - to coin an overused phrase - Time Life have released the complete series of "The Real Ghostbusters" across a magnificently produced, 25 DVD collection.



Housed in a lovingly designed, deluxe, firehouse, collector's box with lenticular images, this box features all 147 episodes of "The Real Ghostbusters" and "Slimer" plus twelve hours of bonus material. All 25 DVDs are housed in five, separate, steel book cases. The high end packaging is a glorious, bona fide, collector's dream.

Check out the contents. Just give us an iPhone and we're able to give you a real time, inside peek of the packaging from the interior of our office located in the boiler room deep within the basement of TL HQ. Seriously... No one else is going to give you this kind of insider's look. No thanks needed. We think of it as a helpful service to our entertainment compatriots.







Since Time Life is super customer oriented, they've agreed to let me tell you they're blowing out "The Real Ghostbusters" complete DVD collection in celebration of the original movie's 25th anniversary. For a limited time, until April 30 to be precise, Time Life are taking a whopping $35 off the price of "The Real Ghostbusters". You can own it all for the amazing, low price of $144.99. Tell all your friends! Buy two or three!

simply wonderful

Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing Simply Red at Radio City Music Hall. If you've never been to Radio City, it's quite an extraordinary venue to see a show of any kind. The outside is far from ordinary. Its 1930s architecture stands elegantly among all the angular, corporate skyscrapers that surround it.

As evening descends, its patrons are lured toward its pink neon outline almost promising a good time for all who enter its hallowed halls.



Once inside, you are greeted with its art deco grandeur and the evening is immediately transformed from an ordinary concert outing to a musical extravaganza.



So what about the show? I didn't just go there to gawk at the architecture.

The concert, one of only two in the US, was completely sold out.  The other show, another SRO event, was at Club Nokia in LA.  Simply Red have had a long and distinguished, 25 year career. In the US, they are mostly known for their two, massive #1 hits, "Holding Back The Years" in 1986 and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" in 1989, which was originally a #3 hit for Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes in 1972.

Lead singer, Mick Hucknall, and his band of incredible musicians, took the audience on a trip through their entire career and touched on nearly every one of their ten albums.



Mick was convivial and effervescent throughout. Not one vocal glitch. His heart stopping performance of "You Make Me Feel Brand New", originally a #2 hit for The Stylistics way back in 1974, was an emotional highlight. 

The musicianship was impeccable.  Nothing but the finest players.  They played all the hits including their signature song, "Holding Back The Years", which Mick introduced as "the song that made me famous".  Obviously a nod to our reality show culture.  They threw in a few surprises like "The Right Thing" and "Come To My Aid" which resonated with hardcore fans like me.  And "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)" hit home for far too many people nearly 25 years after Simply Red first had a hit with it.  As Mick stated, "Nothing's changed.".  It wouldn't be a Simply Red show without a couple of political nods.

The band expertly and joyously performed the following, generous set list:

It's Only Love
A New Flame
Your Mirror
You've Got It
For Your Babies
Holding Back The Years
You Make Me Feel Brand New
Night Nurse
The Air That I Breathe
Go Now
Fake
Thrill Me
Stars
Come To My Aid
The Right Thing
Sunrise
Fairground
Something Got Me Started
Money's Too Tight (To Mention)
If You Don't Know Me By Now

Five of the tracks are covers - the aforementioned "You Make Me Feel Brand New"; "The Air That I Breathe", originally a hit for The Hollies; "Go Now", one of the first hits for The Moody Blues;  "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", which was originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers; and "If You Don't Know Me By Now".  Not only is Mick Hucknall a great songwriter in his own right, he's also a master of interpretation which is clearly showcased by the choice of repertoire he chooses to cover.

Mick often puts his own personal stamp on soul classics.  Many of the originals he's been inspired by can be found deep within several key Time Life collections.  For instance "You Make Me Feel Brand New" by The Stylistics is featured on the 10 CD "Romancing The 70s" collection, while "If You Don't Know Me By Now" is one of 144 treasures on the 10 CD "Classic Soul Ballads" collection.  Surely, your friends will remark at your good taste should you decided to pick up either of these fine collections.

If you're a little less inclined to pick up a big box of love songs and a trip down the neon landscape of the 80s is more your bag, you can find Simply Red's own "Holding Back The Years", featured in its hard-to-find single version, on the "Superstars Of The 80s" 15 CD mega set.  Time Life's got you covered.  And we've got Time Life covered.

If you're interested in checking out more about Simply Red, go to their official website. It's worth a look around.

happy one hundred

The Rewind would like to celebrate!  Time Life connected to its 100th fan on their Facebook page today.  Where are the balloons and confetti? 

If you're not already a fan, what are you waiting for?  All the cool kids are doing it! 

Just go to Time Life's official Facebook page and sign up now.

country introduction

Sometimes it's best to know when to let someone else do the talking.  As much I'm a music fan across most genres, I know when to hand the mic over to someone who has the passion for a particular song, album or artist and let them riff.  Their enthusiasm will fill this space on the internet far more eloquently than I could.

From time to time, The Rewind will have guest contributors.  It might be a celebrity, a close friend, or one of Time Life's esteemed producers.  It's much better than me blathering on about a topic.  And it will allow me a moment to collect my thoughts, have a long, lingering cup of tea and let someone else do the talking....or typing, as is the case.

Our first guest is Time Life producer, Mitch Peyser.  For this auspicious occasion, Mitch has chosen to contribute his thoughts about his love affair with Country music and the legendary Hank Williams.  Without further adieu, here's Mr. Peyser with a few lines from his fine, featherweight fingers as they dance across the computer keyboard.

"Hearing Hank"

Growing up on Long Island, the closest I came to country music was Lynnrd Skynnrd. For some reason, southern rock was really big on Long Island in the clubs and on the radio. The music was OK - I always liked The Allman Brothers. But I never heard much country music. And what I did hear always sounded overproduced, overdone or just plain corny. Plus, I was too busy listening to new wave and punk to be bothered with country. Then I heard Hank Williams. His music was so simple and pure, but intense and raw. He had an intensity that rivaled any of the punk rockers I was listening to.

Well from there, I started listening to country artists who followed the traditional sounds pioneered by Hank Williams - artists like Dwight Yoakam and Randy Travis, both of whom appear in the forthcoming, Time Life 10 CD collection, "Country Music Explosion". It's a great set that covers the best songs and stars of country from the 80s through today.  

There's something in it for every country fan.

And, if you want to hear some of the absolute best country music ever recorded, check out the recently released Hank Williams collection, "The Unreleased Recordings", a 54-track collection of rare and never-before-released songs by one of country music's greatest stars.

pillow talk

Back to "Oldies But Goodies". It's proving to be endlessly fascinating to me being a geek of the pop music variety. For instance, "Tears On My Pillow" by Little Anthony And The Imperials, which is merely one of 158 amazing hits on the 10 CD collection, is an enduring classic that evokes memories of malt shops and poodle skirts. It's the kind of song you would think a heartbroken Laverne DeFazio would listen to after her guy kicked her to the curb.



For some reason, I wasn't able to uncover a period performance of the song on the mighty video depository known as YouTube.  But I think you'll find the one above from 1985 does the song justice.  Check out Little Anthony's passionate vocal delivery toward the end.  Goosebumps!

And then, if you're not familiar with the timeless classics Little Anthony And The Imperials bestowed upon the pop music world, check out this fabulous little medley.

In 1990, Aussie pop rocket, Kylie Minogue, recorded the song for the forgotten flick, "The Delinquents", in which she starred.  The tune was issued as the fourth single from her second album, "Enjoy Yourself".



"Tears On My Pillow" was the third of six number one hits on the UK singles chart for Ms. Minogue.



Artists continued to mine gold from the 1950s by covering pop classics in the 1990s. For instance, Boyz II Men recorded "In The Still Of The Nite" which was originally a hit for the Five Satins in 1956.



The Five Satins had a moderate success with the original which peaked at #24 on the US pop charts and fared much better on the R&B chart by going all the way to #3. Boyz II Men took their version of the song, titled "In The Still Of The Night (I'll Remember)", to #3 on the Hot 100. It featured on the soundtrack to the television miniseries, "The Jacksons: An American Dream".

go with the flo

The #1 song in the US this week is "Right Round" by Flo Rida featuring Ke$ha.  

If our ears aren't playing tricks on us, we could swear Ke$ha sounds an awful lot like Katy Perry.  Listen to her singing the chorus and tell us what you think? It's Katy, right?  And what's the dollar sign all about in Ke$ha's name?  Is she a work for hire?  Does she own an ATM?  We are pretty sure that's not her parading around in the video with Flo.

While "Right Round" is not one of the most inspired moments in hip hop, the chorus does hijack the melody and a few lyrics from "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" by Dead Or Alive, a #11 hit on the US charts and a certified #1 smash in the UK way back in 1985.

It was the record that launched the Stock Aitken Waterman hit machine and the sound of British pop in the late 80s and early 90s.  They produced records for Rick Astley, Bananarama, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Donna Summer and the aforementioned Dead Or Alive.

And some of those artists and their hits can be found on two, fine, 10 CD, retro collections.  Check out "80s Music Explosion" and "Superstars Of The 80s".  We think you'll dig them.  We do!

a love supreme

Yesterday, I mentioned "Oldies But Goodies", one of Time Life's excellent retro adventures in sound. It's all of the biggest hits of the 50s pulled together in one beautifully packaged, 10 CD set. As I perused its contents, my eyes immediately landed upon the original version of "Sea Of Love" by Phil Phillips which was masterfully covered by The Honeydrippers in 1984.

After scanning the set a little further I realized that many artists covered songs from the 1950s in the 1980s. For instance, "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" by Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers is a classic example of Doo Wop that has become an undeniable classic and reached #6 on the US Pop chart in 1956.



It was covered by Diana Ross in 1981 and gave her a #7 hit as her first single for RCA after having resided at the home of Motown for 20 years.



Many believe her version of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" was Diana's shark jump. But at least she redeemed herself with "Swept Away" and "Chain Reaction", two singles that rank among my favorites in the Diana Ross oeuvre.

"Swept Away" is probably best enjoyed in its Arthur Baker remix. It still gets all of us wired! The best part is when Daryl Hall, who wrote the song for Diana, starts wailing ad libs toward the end of the song.



And "Chain Reaction" is one of the best songs the Bee Gees gave away. It wasn't a hit in the US despite being released twice. But it shot straight to #1 on the UK singles chart in 1986 giving Ms. Ross her first chart topper there since "I'm Still Waiting" in 1971.

timeless Plant tangents

This entry is a little lesson in how music is truly one of the most timeless and inspired methods of entertainment. Watch in amazement as we take you on a phenomenal, musical journey.

Recently, Time Life won a Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album for "Down In New Orleans" by The Blind Boys Of Alabama.  

In the midst of that success, the night really belonged to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.  



They won Album Of The Year for "Raising Sand" and Record Of The Year for "Please Read The Letter".

Robert Plant is no stranger to lending his considerable talents to a collaborative project.  Long ago, in a universe called "The 80s",  he was lead vocalist for The Honeydrippers, a supergroup that included  Jeff Beck, Nile Rogers, Paul Shaffer, and his old Led Zeppelin cohort, Jimmy Page.  In 1984. they released a five song EP called "Volume One".  

The lead single from the album was "Sea Of Love" and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

For those in the know, "Sea Of Love" was a cover of a golden olden by Phil Phillips.  In 1959, the single rocketed to the #1 position on the Billboard R&B chart and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It remains as Phil's only chart hit.

"Sea Of Love" is just one of 158 of the biggest rock 'n' roll hits of the 50's included on Time Life's 10 CD "Oldies But Goodies" collection.  It features everything from classics to hard-to-find hits and is the most comprehensive collection of its kind. 

Fun fact...  Phil Phillips' version of "Sea Of Love" failed to chart in the UK.  However, it was recorded by Marty Wilde and hit #3 on the UK singles chart in 1959.  Who is Marty's daughter? She's one of our all time favorite blond bombshells.  It's Kim Wilde!

Kim had two giant hits on these shores.  "Kids In America"  hit the dizzying heights of #25 in 1981, but it remains a New Wave classic that still gets played on radio today.  Kim's biggest success came in 1987 with "You Keep Me Hangin' On", her #1 smash cover of The Supreme's eighth #1 hit from 1966.

As a handy reminder, both of Kim's hits can be found on Time Life's 10 CD "Superstars Of The 80s" collection. Order yours now! Operators are standing by.

yeah, I'm talkin' to you

See these guys right here?



Well, that's really a cartoon representation of them. Here's who were talking about...



Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to a group that will likely be blasting through the offices of The Rewind from June onwards. These two fine fellows are The Yeah You's. They are the duo of Nick Ingram and Mike Kinitish. And if you happen to like your pop music sunny, bright and bouncy with menacing dark clouds on the horizon, then The Yeah You's are for you.

So far, we've only heard snippets on their MySpace page. And we must admit that we were totally inspired to write this entry when our good friends over at Popjustice, our favorite place for pop, posted about them today. THAT, my friends, is the power of music! One blast of "15 Minutes", their debut single which is scheduled to be unleashed on the pubic in June, sold me in an instant. It's power pop in the fine tradition of amazing groups like Queen, Pet Shop Boys, The Beach Boys, Madness, Sparks, The Feeling and Jellyfish.

Visually, The Yeah You's remind us a little of another bespectacled duo, The Proclaimers.

How could anyone forget their solitary US hit, "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles"?



But the eyeglasses are where the similarities end between the two duos.

So, we tip our hat to the mighty Popjustice for turning us on to The Yeah You's. And we're paying it forward by telling you about them.

half Nelson

Pet Shop Boys, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, have had 41 Top 40 singles in the UK with 22 of them reaching the Top 10 and four hitting the very zenith of the chart. They are the most successful duo in UK chart history.

In the US, where Hall & Oates hold the record for being the most successful duo, Pet Shop Boys have had a somewhat more muted chart history with six Top 20 hits occurring during their initial white heat period from 1985 through 1988.

Their new single, "Love Etc.", is the first from their forthcoming album, "Yes", which is their tenth longplayer.



It's their 13th if you count their greatest hits and b-sides collections, and their 17th if you include the four albums they released in their "Disco" series. When you add in their cast recording and soundtrack work for "Closer To Heaven" and "Battleship Potempkin", respectively, plus their live album, "Concrete", Pet Shop Boys (No "The" before the group's name, fact fans!) have released a staggering 20 albums over their entire career.

"Love Etc.", marks the 25th anniversary of their debut single, "West End Girls", which was first released in 1984. The original version was produced by legendary Hi-NRG producer, Bobby O, and became a modest regional hit in Europe. It was also very popular in New York and Los Angeles where it garnered significant airplay on alternative stations WLIR and KROQ.

By 1985, PSB secured a deal with EMI Records, where they are still signed to this day for the world excluding the US. It was there that yours truly worked with them for six years from the albums "Behavior" through "Alternative". As you can imagine, it was a highlight in a career of highlights.

"West End Girls" was re-recorded in 1985 with producer, Stephen Hauge, and became a worldwide, #1 smash, setting the stage for their magnificent 25 year career as trailblazers in pop music, visual art and fashion.

In 1987, Pet Shop Boys recorded a cover of "Always On My Mind", originally recorded by Brenda Lee. It was first made famous by Elvis Presley and then became a signature song for Willie Nelson in 1982. "Always On My Mind" gave Pet Shop Boys their third of four #1 singles in the UK. It peaked at #4 in the US.

The video was pieced together from the often forgotten and much maligned movie, "It Couldn't Happen Here", one of very few career missteps for PSB. My favorite part of the video is when the man in the backseat says "You see, I'm a bilingual. I'm a bilingual illiterate. I can't read in two languages." Totally surreal!

Willie Nelson's version of "Always On My Mind" appeared on his album of the same name. The single hit pole position on the Country chart and peaked at #5 on the Hot 100.

One of Willie's most famous songs is "Crazy" which was written in 1961 and recorded that year by honey throated chanteuse, Patsy Cline. It featured on her album, "Showcase With The Jordanaires" later that same year. It swiftly became one of her signature tunes along with an early hit single, "I Fall To Pieces". The song has found a home in the repertoire of numerous artists including LeAnn Rimes and Kenny Rogers.

Both Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline can be found with their signature songs and other hits on "Lifetime Of Country Romance" which is available from Time Life in two tasty varieties.  There is the standard 10 CD set for those that want a healthy smattering of Country goodness.  And if you're looking for a smorgasbord of southern hospitality, spring for the 18 CD mega set.  Either way, you can't go wrong.  Look for a few new Country collections soon!  They are not to be missed.

One of my favorite Patsy Cline tunes is "Walking After Midnight".  Along with "Crazy", it's an amazing example of how the lines between genres often blur. It's a little bit Country and little bit o' the Blues.



In 1990, Fairground Attraction, featuring one of Scotland's most revered vocalists, Eddi Reader, released their version of the Patsy Cline classic as a single.



However, they are most remembered for their surprise smash, "Perfect", which went to #1 in the UK all the way back in 1988.

In 2007, Eddi Reader released an amazing collection of songs entitled "Peacetime".  If you're soothed by the dulcet tones of singers like k.d. lang, then you're going to fall in love with Eddi.

And to wrap up this long and winding entry, I'd like to mention Mr. Nelson's recently released collaboration with the legendary Country group, Asleep At The Wheel.  It's called "Willie And The Wheel" and it marks 57 years since his debut album, "And Then I Wrote", which was released in 1962.  It's a favorite around TL HQ and was the inspiration for this mammoth entry.  Many thanks to boss man, Gary Newman, for pumping Willie through the building's sound system all week.