Updating a story posted here earlier today, Bruce Springsteen’s new album, “Magic,” is expected to be released on vinyl a week before its CD version hits stores in order to qualify it for 2007 Grammy consideration. The vinyl is due Sept. 25 via Columbia, while the CD will arrive Oct. 2; Sept. 30 is the cut-off for Grammy eligibility.
A handful of major releases have appeared on vinyl prior to CD; Pearl Jam released its 1994 album, “Vitalogy,” on vinyl two weeks early, prompting a premature No. 55 debut on The Billboard 200.
The first single from “Magic,” the driving rocker “Radio Nowhere,” is due to hit U.S. radio outlets on Sept. 4 but has begun making the rounds online in the past 24 hours.
Springsteen and the E Street Band are widely expected to play some live shows in the U.S. around the album’s release, but dates have yet to be announced.
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
A wealth of previously unreleased material will be found on the Ramones DVD “It’s Alive 1974-1996,” due Oct. 2 via Rhino. The project was overseen by drummer Tommy Ramone and is arranged in chronological order across two DVDs.
Among the highlights are unreleased footage from the same New Year’s Eve 1977 show in London that was released two years later as the live album “It’s Alive,” nine songs from the 1982 US Festival, two songs from a 1995 stadium show in Buenos Aires, eight songs from a June 1977 show at New York’s CBGB and clips from the TV shows “Top of the Pops” and “The Old Grey Whistle Test.”
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Two popular pieces of the Kronos Quartet’s concert repertoire will be released digitally Sept. 4 via Nonesuch. The new arrangements of Sigur Ros’ “Flugufrelsarinn” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” were written in tandem with Stephen Prutsman.
“I first heard Sigur Rós in 2000 and it was thrilling,” says Kronos Quartet founder David Harrington. “I could not stop listening to them. Kronos had to play their music.”
Having played a busy slate of shows this year, Kronos’ lone remaining date at present is Aug. 30 at Los Angeles’ California Plaza.
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.