Rare CD: Skinny Puppy - ERROR

"Skinny Puppy / Sinead O'Connor - CD Single with RARE ERROR: The CD, insert and inlay all say that this is a Skinny Puppy CD single. But, when it's played instead of hearing Skinny Puppy's "Worlock", "Tin Omen" or "Brak Talk", you hear Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U"

People are willing to pay a lot for mistakes! This CD single containing the wrong artist sold for $395.00 on ebay (13 bids).

Rare CD: Bowling for Soup

This is the original Que-So Records indie produced in Wichita Falls TX 1995, even before "Tell Me When To Whoaa!" Jaret, Chris, Erik, and *Lance* all original members.

2-1-08: One sold for $290.00 on ebay (Buy It Now feature).

Rare CD: Nirvana "Nevermind the Bullocks"

Marketed as "The Rarest Nirvana Cd EVER Made" (SADMOP-003/004), this live recording of Nirvana will likely earn you a handsome profit. Show was recorded on 11-09-93 at Stabler Arena, Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA).

2-8-08: One sold for $799.00 (!) on ebay (using Buy It Now).

Rare CD and review: Tyketto "Shine"

People who are not strangers to this site know I am a big Danny Vaughn fan. His performance on Tyketto's debut album, "Don't Come Easy" (Geffen, 1990) helped make that an AOR masterpiece. After the less stellar follow up, "Strength in Numbers," (1994), Danny had to take care of his ailing wife. The rest of the boys recruited Steve Augeri (from the AOR outfit Tall Stories) to fill Danny's shoes and "Shine" (1995) was the result. (Steve would later fill the void of Steve Perry in Journey for several years).

As Steve no doubt has figured out by now, it ain't easy filling shoes. Just ask Gary Cherone. Nevertheless, Steve has a great voice built for AOR and I hope to hear him in a band that had no other lead singer prior to him.

Disconnecting it from Danny Vaughn, "Shine" is a solid slice of AOR that stands up pretty well on its own. I am glad to own a copy, as it is evidently rather rare and not likely to get a reissue anytime soon. It is selling at Amazon.com right now for nearly $40. Check now.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 4, 7, 10

Rare CD: Johnny Hates Jazz "Tall Stories"

"Shattered Dreams" was one of my favorite guilty pop pleasures from the late 80s. It inspired me to check out the entire CD from Johnny Hates Jazz (1987's "Turn Back the Clock"), which had a handful of other decent tracks. I didn't know they had a follow up CD and I would be curious to hear it. Too bad it is rare and out of print...I am not that curious to hear it! "Tall Stories" was released on Virgin in 1991, and actually has a different vocalist. Clark Datchler left in 1988 and was replaced by an ex-bass player from the Cure (Phil Thornalley).

2-6-08: One sells for $33.44 on ebay (7 bids)

CD review: Will Hoge "Draw the Curtains"

The latest from rousing roots rocker Will Hoge is unexpectedly subdued. I did not anticipate so many ballads. I was all ready to rock out to track # 1 and was taken aback by the slow piano and sad hamonica. You'd expect a track or 2 on any Will Hoge disc to have this sound and tempo, but the polarity is reversed on this release. Only 1 or 2 rockers this time around.

But more important - are the songs any good? I wish I could say they were better. They are just too boring and devoid of melody! Lyrically I still give the guy credit, and he still puts his blood sweat and tears into every track. Just listen to the autobiographical closing track and you'll know what Will Hoge is all about.

I loved his earlier work, "Carousel" (2001) and "Blackbird on a Lonely Wire," (2003) but his last two records have disappointed.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 7

Will Hoge at MySpace. Official site.

Cool trivia: Dan Baird was his first guitarist...formerly of Georgia Satellites, remember?! Dan is no longer with the band.

CD review: Paul McCartney "Memory Almost Full"

Oh, Paul. I was so looking forward to this, but now I see why the critics were warning us about this new CD of yours. I was optimistic after the near masterpiece that was 2005's "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard."

Where are the trademark McCartney hooks? Where are the cute melodies? Creative harmonies? Quality lyrics? It seems by and large on this effort Paul just repeats the same word over and over and over and over and over in order to get something to stick in our head. All it does is make my finger stick to fast forward.

Surprisingly few tracks stand out, including the catchy lead single, "Ever Present Past." Maybe I am expecting too much, but deeply disappointed. I also heard the three bonus tracks that come with the deluxe edition pictured above with DVD and all. 2 of the 3 bonus audio tracks suck ... there should be a law banning sucky bonus tracks.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 4, 12, 15

Paul McCartney - offical site.

Enjoy the single "Ever Present Past":

Rare CD: Nena "It's All in the Game"

"This is the extremely rare original 1985 english language CD by NENA titled "It's All In The Game".

This is the one without their breakthrough 80s staple, "99 Luft Balloons"

And it still sold for $300.05 on ebay (35 ! bids)

Collectors take note: this will be reissued later this month on Phantom Sound & Vision - see here.

Rare CD: Joe Strummer "Earthquake Weather"

Joe Strummer from The Clash released "Earthquake Weather" (epic : EK 45372) in 1989 to mixed reviews. People either seemed to love it or hate it. While Joe tried to capture a "live" sound, the production is argued to have achieved that to a fault.

This one sold for $46.00 on ebay (13 bids).

Currently listing for $85 used on Amazon.com. Check now.

Rare CD: Nickel Creek "Here To There"

"10 TRACK COMPACT DISC INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED BY THE BAND IN 1997. THIS IS THEIR SECOND ALBUM

WHEREAS THEIR FIRST ALBUM "LITTLE COWPOKE" WAS RELEASED ON CHOO CHOO RECORDS (AND THAT LABEL STILL HOLDS THE RIGHTS), THIS ALBUM WAS ONLY INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED IN A VERY LIMITED RUN BY THE BAND. ONLY ABOUT 1000 COPIES OF THIS ALBUM WERE RELEASED

IN SEVERAL INTERVIEWS LATER IN THEIR CAREER, THE BAND HAS SAID, DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT FAN AND COLLECTOR INTEREST IN THE ALBUM, "HERE TO THERE" WILL NOT BE RE-RELEASED"

This one sold for $210.01 on ebay (10 bids).

UPDATE 2-29-08: Another sells for $210.01 on ebay (13 bids).

Rare CD: Train "One and A Half"

"Original US Pressing for Train "One And A Half," CD, Sony/Aware Records, 1999. Tough to find CD that was released in a VERY LIMITED EDITION between the first two Train records!!! All songs recorded LIVE in studio on Oct. 21, 1999"

Tracks:
1. Counting On You
2. Hopeless

3. Ramble On (acoustic)

4. Sweet Rain

5. The Highway

6. Meet Virginia (acoustic)

This one sold for $41.00 on ebay (7 bids).

Rare CD: Jonas Brothers "It's About Time"

These guys are all the rave among the little girls right now and their scarce 2006 release is in high demand. Lots of these going for over $100 currently on ebay, and $125 on Amazon.com - check now. I'll be surprised if this is not re-issued soon.

2-3-08: One sells for $110 on ebay (44 (!) bids)

Rare CD: Soundtrack "Serpent and the Rainbow"

Listed as "one of the rarest soundtracks of all time" - I do not doubt it since it is a Varese and went for $338.33 on ebay with 28 bids. This is the soundtrack for the 1988 Wes Craven film.

Rare CD: Soundtrack "Lethal Weapon"

With only 3000 original copies in existence, the soundtrack to the first Lethal Weapon movie fetches a handsome price (Limited edition, Bacchus Media Group Inc). Don't bother with the sequels...those soundtracks are worthless. Currently unavailable on Amazon - check now.

2-3-08: One sells for $64.99 on ebay (14 bids).

Rare CD: Little River Band "No Reins"

The Little River Band has put out some terrific AOR in their time; several of their tunes got a 5-star ranking on my iPOD. Outside of their numerous Greatest Hits compilations, their studio releases are a bit tough to find stateside on CD. Take for instance, this copy of the classic "No Reins," which sold for $29.78 on ebay (7 bids). Going for $63.00 used on Amazon.com. Check now.

Review: t.A.T.u. "The Best"

"The most successful international recording act exported from Russia." Maybe so, but these two don't do much for me. I just don't get it...this CD was included in a big collection I bought from some guy off ebay, mixed in with lots of good new hard rock CDs (like Shinedown, Seether, Taproot, Three Days Grace, and the like). How this one got into his collection puzzles me...it is a lot of electronica and eurodance. Yes, there are some hard rock overtones every now and then, and some of the sweetest harmonies since ABBA, but nothing to stop me from immediately putting this up on for a lala trade.

iPOD worthy: 4, 6

Official site.

News: Glen Phillips new EP available now

Glen Phillips has completed a new EP that can be checked out here. Formerly the frontman of one of my all-time favorite bands, Toad the Wet Sprocket, the prolific Glen has written an enviable catalogue of music that is both artistic and melodic.

Glen's MySpace page.

And if that isn't exciting enough, he's participating in a new all-star band that should have a CD out later this year:

"Tentatively known as the Scrolls, the octet is comprised of keyboardist Benmont Tench from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, drummer Pete Thomas and bassist Davey Faragher from Elvis Costello's Imposters, Nickel Creek's Sara and Sean Watkins, Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips, fiddler Luke Bula from the Blue Merle Band and multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz."

Story here.

Rare CD?: Kings of Leon "Aha Shake Heartbreak" - ERROR

I am posting an email I got regarding an unusual version of this Kings of Leon CD...we'd love to hear from anyone with some info on this...Bill

"Hi,

I'd appreciate your opinion on a CD I have. Outwardly it appears to be the Kings of Leon CD 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' which seems to have a perfect CD booklet and CD image. However, the music is classic pop and country & western tunes redone in German (I think). I understand that this does happen occasionally during the manufacturing process but my questions are:

1. Just how rare are CDs like this?
2. Does it have any value over and above the second hand value of a perfect album?
3. Where on the net would I go to find people that might see it as valuable?

I presume that the music on the CD, albeit the wrong music, also affects the value and in my case it may lower the value considerably!!"

Rare CD: Soundtrack "Ghostbusters"

"Ghostbusters - Varese Sarabande rare & OOP CDThis auction is for the out-of-print CD release of Elmer Bernstein's score to the film "Ghostbusters." Released as a limited collector’s edition of 3000 copies through the Varese Sarabande Soundtrack Club ( Catalog #: VCL 0306 1046 )."

He slimed me...one sells for $79.05 on ebay (15 bids)

4-21-08: One sells for $71.00 on ebay (14 bids)

Rare CD: Soundtrack "Commando"

"Commando - Varese Sarabande rare & OOP CDThis auction is for the out-of-print CD release of James Horner's score to the film "Commando." Released as a limited collector’s edition of 3000 copies through the Varese Sarabande Soundtrack Club ( Catalog #: VCL 1103 1026 )."

Not going for as much as "Predator", but not too shabby...

One sells for $65.00 on ebay (14 bids)

4-24-08: One sells for $103.52 on ebay (25 bids)