LeeMail- 4/14/2000

LEEMail

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Unbelievable.

The only thing scarier than *NSync selling 2.4 million copies of their newest thing (and only selling 800,000 the next week - awwww) is that I saw it advertised in a Target flyer as being on sale for $14.88 ON SALE FOR $15! Good Christ, that's more insane than anything. Fifteen dollars is now a sale price for a single disc. Unfathomable.

Favorite Everything Of All Time This Week©: No, it's not a new category - I'm just so very excited about the remaster/reissue of John Lennon's Imagine [Capitol]. Where to start... The remix is fantastic; these songs have never sounded better. I know this record pretty darn well, and I discovered new things. The packaging is first rate; lots of great photos and recording information. And - quite simply - it's an incredible record; no collection is complete without this one. Yeah, I know, I've bought it before too - but it's worth it to have the (currently) definitive version of any record this important. But the real question is too obvious: When is Capitol going to give ol' John's ol' band the same respect? (And John's first, and best record said respect, too.) It's unbelievable the shitty packaging used for basically all of the Beatles releases on CD. I bet Capitol spent more money on the packaging for the last Meredith Brooks record (which sold, what - 17 copies?) than they have on the Beatles catalog. And, with upgrade mania in full swing, I find it hard to believe that they haven't tossed around the idea of re-issuing them. Hell, Capitol's the label that turned their first 7 records into 11 in the first place. With Garth creeping up in the All Time Sales Dept. (and I KNOW you don't want me to get started on Garth again...) why aren't the Beatles albums being redone/reSOLD correctly. Here's the plan: re-issue the UK albums with good packaging: photos, liner notes, recording information. Jesus, those are some of the most important records ever recorded/released. Since they're so short (and to quiet all of the idiots who bitch about them being in mono - which was the way they were goddamn recorded, you morons) mirror a stereo version on the same disc. Then, do 2-fers of the American stuff. Now, if ever there was a cause for an $18.98 list on CDs, this is it. They're worth it - they're the fucking Beatles! People, do you realize how much better your lives would be if I were King Of Everything? Jesus, at least just think about how great your record collections would be...

Most Underrated Band Of All Time This Week©: Okay, so this is a new category... Tripping Daisy. Nope, no tie-in joke here, just a great fucking band who sold no records. If you want to get anything out if this category, find one of these bands' records.

BTW music lovers, not only does the soundtrack to The Flintstones Viva Rock Vegas feature the song styling of notables like Nick Lowe, B.B. King and Donnie Iris (who chimes in with "Love Is Like A Rock", natch), it also features "Rock Bottom" from your fave & mine - Mr. Robbie Fulks.

Kiss Me DeadLEE A Year Ago This Week©:

Ellen Corby, 87. Actress ("Grandma Walton"). April 14.

David McCall,71 Ad executive who created "Schoolhouse Rock". April 18. (With his wife, Penny, 57, in a car crash while helping refugees in Albania.)

Senor Wences, 103. Ventriloquist. April 20. S'OK? S'awright!

Happy Birthday To Thee From LEE This Week©:

04/14/35 Loretta Lynn

04/14/45 Ritchie Blackmore

04/15/42 Allan Clarke

04/15/44 Dave Edmunds

04/16/39 Dusty Springfield

04/18/46 Hayley Mills

04/19/47 Mark Volman

Favorite Song Of All Time This Week©: "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're The Royal Macadamia Nuts)" - The Turtles as Chief Kamanawanalea & His Royal Macadamia Nuts from my

Favorite Album Of All Time This Week©: The Turtles Present The Battle Of The Bands. Man, "You Showed Me", "Elenore" and "Buzzsaw" all on the same record. Priceless.

LEE On DVD This Week©: To coincide (and Capitolize, hee hee) on the re-release of John Lennon's Imagine, Capitol has issued Gimme Some Truth: The Making Of Imagine on DVD. This 110 minute documentary features film used in John & Yoko's 1971 film for Imagine (which featured all of the songs from John's record and 2 from Fly, which was Yoko's), and some footage used in the 1988 documentary Imagine. But the vast majority of it is previously unseen - and fantastic. Lots of in the studio stuff. It's fascinating to see/hear the songs become fully realized when the rest of the band works with John. And, speaking of sound, all of the music has been remixed into 5.1 surround. Incrediburgable, kids. Now, if you weren't a fan of John, this film ain't gonna win you over; but those of you who know how great he was will have a field day. Extra features include a 35 minute interview with John & Yoko from that time and a ginchy discography with sound clips from all the records. The film is running on A&E later this month, so check your local listings. My one complaint: Why not include the entire 60 minute Imagine film from 1971 on the disc? Seems like a natural choice to me...