Surroundablog

Good News for People Who Love Stereo

(Epic) Epic recording artist Modest Mouse will release their platinum selling Good News For People Who Love Bad News as a DualDisc on October 11th. The first disc includes the entire original album and an added bonus track "I've Got It All (Most)," which was previously only available as a b-side on the "Float On" single. The second disc contains videos for both "Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty" a new music video titled "Stiff Animal Fantasy" set to the song "World At Large." Also included is an interview directed by and featuring lead singer Isaac Brock, which first aired on MTV's Advance Warning.

Hypnotize-d by a System of a Down DualDisc

NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Six months after System of a Down's Mezmerize debuted at number one on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, the uncompromising and outspoken quartet returns with Hypnotize, part two of a promised two-album set. American Recordings/Columbia will release a cd and DualDisc version of Hypnotize, the band's fifth studio album, on November 22.

Adding to the excitement is System of a Down's just-announced American Music Award nomination for "Favorite Artist." This marks the second time the group has been nominated in the Alternative category. The American Music Awards will be held in Los Angeles the same day Hypnotize hits stores.

Both the CD and DualDisc versions feature 12 new songs as well as artwork by Vartan Malakian, father of SOAD's guitarist/singer Daron. The packaging for Hypnotize is specially designed to physically join Mezmerize and Hypnotize together, forming one unified product with continuous artwork. In addition, the DualDisc edition will contain exclusive behind-the-scenes footage showing the making of both records.

Reggae Icon Burning Spear Release the First-Ever Indie DualDisc Project

Disc Makers, the nation's leading independent media manufacturer, and Grammy-award winning reggae artist Burning Spear have announced the release of Spear's new studio album, Our Music, the first-ever independent release on DualDisc. This release marks the first project by a non-major label artist to incorporate the revolutionary new technology that combines CD and DVD content onto one double-sided disc. The album will contain new tracks from the reggae legend along with exclusive behind the scenes interviews and live footage from the recording sessions for Our Music.

Aerosmith Vegas Club Show Headed To DualDisc

By Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Aerosmith kicks out the jams on the upcoming live disc "Rockin' the Joint," which was taped Jan. 11, 2002, during a rare club show at Las Vegas' the Joint. Due Oct. 25 via Columbia as a DualDisc, the album culls highlights from a set that included an uncommon six songs from Aerosmith's classic 1975 album "Toys in the Attic."

Although it features only 11 of the 25 songs performed that night, "Rockin' the Joint" includes rarities like "Light Inside," "No More No More," "Seasons of Wither" and "Rattlesnake Shake." The DVD side of the album will offer live performances of as-yet-unconfirmed tracks.

Aerosmith has been kicking around the idea of releasing this particular concert for several years. "Those are so fun. That's when we really feel confident to bring out the old bluesy stuff," bassist Tom Hamilton told Billboard.com of Joint-style club shows in the spring of 2002. "It definitely influences the set list -- very much so."

Here is the track list for "Rockin' the Joint":

"Beyond Beautiful"
"Same Old Song and Dance"
"No More No More"
"Seasons of Wither"
"Light Inside"
"Draw the Line"
"I Don't Want To Miss a Thing"
"Big Ten Inch Record"
"Rattlesnake Shake"
"Walk This Way"
"Train Kept a Rollin'"

Stevie Winwood DualDisc

(Press Release) On November 1st, Epic Records will re-issue Winwood's solo album About Time as a deluxe Dual Disc. Included in this Dual Disc release are 3 limited edition live tracks on the audio side and a live concert performance from Winwood on the video side.

In support of his extraordinary "Last Traffic Jam" DVD release as well as the About Time deluxe Dual Disc re-issue, Steve Winwood will hit the road for select U.S. tour dates starting in New York City on September 20th. While in NYC, Winwood will be stopping by NBC's Weekend Today for an outdoor performance on September 17th as well as performing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on September 21.

The following tour dates are confirmed with more to be announced:
September 20 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
September 25 Los Angeles, CA The Wilshire
September 27 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
September 28 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
September 30 Denver, CO Paramount
October 1 Kansas City, MO The Uptown
October 2 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre
October 4 Detroit, MI State Theatre
October 5 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
October 7 Chicago, IL House of Blues
October 8 Chicago, IL House of Blues
October 10 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
October 11 Albany, NY Hart Theatre
October 12 Waterbury, CT Palace Theatre
October 14 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
October 15 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre

Nina Simone and Bill Withers Bolstered For DualDiscs

By Jordan Heller Weissmann, N.Y.

Sony BMG will re-release material from R&B performer Bill Withers and legendary soul singer Nina Simone in the form of two DualDisc albums due on Oct. 11. Withers' 1971 debut, "Just As I Am," and a Simone compilation "The Soul of Nina Simone" have been expanded with DVD documentary interviews and live footage.

Collecting 15 tracks from her landmark 1960s recordings, Simone's retrospective will be the first new compilation to be packaged in a DualDisc format. Simone referred to her style as "Black classical," and built her reputation on intense, plaintive renditions Broadway and jazz standards such as "I Loves You Porgy" and contemporary hits like Bob Dylan's "Tom Thumb's Blues," both of which are featured on the disc.

Also included are two previously unreleased tracks, "Porgy and Bess Medly" from the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" from the Westbury Music Fair.

The Dual Disc will include a DVD of rare and unreleased performances from the "Ed Sullivan Show," "Live At the Bitter End" and the 1969 "Harlem Festival," often referred to as the Black Woodstock.

Withers recorded "Just As I Am" in the summer of 1970. In the midst perpetual rejection from industry A&R men and a crumbled relationship, Withers caught a break with Sussex Records, which paired him with producer Booker T. Jones.

The album eventually birthed the smash single "Ain't No Sunshine," winner of the 1971 Grammy for best R&B song. The DVD side will include a new documentary on the making of the album and Withers' early life, as well as live performances of "Ain't No Sunshine," "I'm Her Daddy," and "Harlem."

Talking Heads Refurbish Catalog For DualDisc

By Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

  The Talking Heads have expanded their eight studio albums with previously unreleased content for their release as DualDiscs. Due Oct. 4 via Rhino, the sets will be packaged together in a white molded plastic box that holds eight jewel cases. Each album has also been remastered by Talking Heads keyboardist Jerry Harrison.

The group's 1977 debut, the appropriately named "Talking Heads: 77," will include a 5.1 mix of a previously unreleased acoustic version of "Psycho Killer" and an alternate 5.1 mix of "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town." The DVD side sports a live clip of "Pulled Up" taped in 1978 in Berkeley, Calif., and "I Feel It in My Heart" shot in 1976 at New York's now-defunct the Kitchen.

The follow-up, "More Songs About Buildings and Food," is bolstered by alternate versions of "The Big Country," "I'm Not in Love" and "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel," as well as a "1977 version" of "Stay Hungry." The DVD pulls "Warning Sign" from the aforementioned Berkeley show plus "Found a Job" from a 1978 gig at New York's Entermedia Theatre.

Best known for "Cities" and "Life During Wartime," 1979's "Fear of Music" is expanded here with alternate versions of those tracks as well as "Mind," and an unfinished outtake of "Dancing for Money." The DVD side includes performances of "Cities" and "I Zimba" from the German TV show "Rockpop" in 1980.

"Remain in Light" is beefed up with four unfinished outtakes: "Fela's Riff," "Unison," "Double Groove" and "Right Start." "Rockpop" performances of "Once in a Lifetime" and "Crosseyed and Painless" are utilized for the DVD side. The 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues" features an alternate 5.1 mix of "Burning Down the House" as well as videos for that tune and "This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)."

Bon Jovi plans multimedia launch and a retro DualDisc

Bon Jovi will be the first band to rock the new Nokia Theatre Times Square with a live launch of their new album, "Have a Nice Day." The Sept. 19 performance will be the centerpiece of a massive multimedia event produced by Network Live, the newly formed joint venture between America Online, XM Satellite Radio and AEG.

A behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of making the album will precede the live performance. Network Live will broadcast the entire event to AOL.com users and XM Satellite Radio subscribers, while the show will be simulcast live in High Definition and 5.1 audio to more than 100 Regal, United Artists, Edwards, and Georgia Theatre Company movie screens in 50 U.S. markets.

National CineMedia entertainment services will present the entire program in 50 U.S. markets as a part of its Big Screen Concerts series. Advance tickets will be available at participating movie theatre box offices nationwide and online at BigScreenConcerts.com on a date to be announced shortly. Tickets to the Nokia Theatre event will also be available to the public.

As previously reported, "Have a Nice Day" is due Sept. 20 via Island Records.

On the same day, the label will issue a DualDisc edition of the group's iconic 1986 album “Slippery When Wet.” The DVD side will boast a 5.1 Surround Sound mix and videos for “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin' on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Never Say Goodbye” and “Wild in the Streets.”

The band is eyeing a fall tour that will be promoted by AEG Live/Concerts West.

Boz Scaggs' "Fade Into Light" Album Makes U.S. DualDisc Debut

New Songs, Fresh Re-Interpretations of Scaggs Classics, Three Video Performances Are Combined in American Edition

NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 16, 2005 -- "Fade Into Light," an intimate and understated studio album from the singer BOZ SCAGGS, will be released by Virgin Records on September 27, 2005. Previously released by Virgin Japan, "Fade Into Light" has become a much-sought-after prize among Scaggs aficionados who've paid high prices for the import. It offers "unplugged" versions of some of Scaggs' best-known songs, along with several new compositions. Included in this U.S. Virgin DualDisc edition is a new recording by Scaggs of the 80's classic, "Love TKO."

The DVD side of the U.S. package contains the entire album in Enhanced Stereo, along with concert performances in 5.1 Surround Sound and High Definition Video of "Lowdown," "Harbor Lights" and "We're All Alone," taken from the "Boz Scaggs Greatest Hits Live" DVD, recorded in San Francisco.

DualDisc is here to stay

NARM report prepared by The NPD Group shows much growth potential for CD/DVD hybrid format

(San Diego) -

Just one year ago, DualDisc technology was heralded by the music industry as a dramatic expansion of the music experience.  According to a recent report prepared for the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) by The NPD Group, consumers who have tried the new format already have a high level of satisfaction with it. Since their introduction in the fourth quarter of 2004, nearly five million DualDisc units have been sold, which accounts for two percent of total CD sales.

"Based on the results of our survey of music consumers, a majority of those who are aware of the DualDisc format plan to purchase," said Russ Crupnick, president of NPD's Music & Movies division.   "It's now incumbent on retailers and manufacturers to better educate consumers as to the availability - and value - of this new, integrated format."

According to the NARM/NPD report, more than a quarter of recent music buyers were aware of the DualDisc format.  Nearly 60 percent of consumers who were aware of the format expect to buy one for themselves in the next six months.  Among those who have already purchased DualDisc, nearly three quarter expect to do so again in the next six months.

The consumers who purchased the most music overall were also the heaviest buyers of DualDiscs. This technologically savvy consumer segment is also most likely to purchase a la carte digital downloads, subscribe to online music services and by all measures highly value exclusive content. DualDiscs give manufacturers and retailers of physical music a powerful way to garner a greater share of these consumers' entertainment budgets.

"Our research shows that building awareness of the added value of the DualDisc format may go a long way toward increasing sales potential, especially among the heavy music buying segment," said NARM President Jim Donio. "Once consumers are aware of the format, their purchase intent is strong. Additionally, once buyers experience the format, repeat purchase intent is very high - especially when the features integrate music extras with the video."