What better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love than with a little bit of free-market commerce. Hey, if Ben and Jerry can make capitalism work for them, why can't Time Life?

While the iron is definitely hot, Time Life will release, on June 19, a 40-song double CD with songs from that summer that defined a generation and its counterculture titled Summer of Love: Hits of 1967 (Time Life) and, not surprisingly, it gives off an odor of patchouli. Well, that last bit is not true, but really, don't you think it should?

Comprised of "hippie anthems, stoner faves, and classic AM and FM hits," according to the PR people promoting the box set, it features tracks like The Byrds' "So You Want to be a Rock 'N' Roll Star," Cream's "I Feel Free," and Strawberry Alarm Clock's "Incense and Peppermints." Whether it digs a little deeper back into those acts' Bible-thick catalogs remains to be seen.

While all those tracks probably already have a place in your iPod, the real prize from this collection might just be the My Generation DVD. What promises to be an in-depth study of how the hippie movement came to flower-power, the DVD boasts rare footage of Bay Area artists doing their thing during the Summer of Love.

There's Janis Joplin jamming with Big Brother and The Holding Company on "Ball and Chain" and a jam session bringing together the prodigious talents of Santana (Goldmine's May 25 cover), the Grateful Dead and the Jefferson Airplane. Performance footage from Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Rolling Stones and The Who is included.

Keep an eye on www.timelife.com for more information and do stay tuned for Goldmine's Summer of Love 40th Anniversary issue, coming out this summer. How's that for kismet?

Memories: Anybody out there old enough to remember the Summer of Love? If so, send some of them my way. Who knows? They just might make into Goldmine.

The biggest name in reggae is Bob Marley. What's the second biggest? Why, his backing band, of course.

News arrived this week from the Wailers' camp (photo at right courtesy of www.wailers.com) that the reggae legends, who've sold an astounding 250 million records worldwide, are heading back into the studio to record a new album, destined for a fall release. And that's not all. They are also heading back out on the road, with a new member in tow. His name is Yvad, and from his press clippings, you'd think he's the second coming of Marley himself. Of Jamaican descent, Yvad is a young Rastafarian singer-songwriter inspired by — who else — Bob Marley.

Yvad joins a lineup that includes original members Aston "Family Man" Barrett, considered by many as the best bass player in reggae, and Al Anderson, whose talents have graced recordings by Ben Harper, James Brown, Marley, Peter Tosh and Lauryn Hill.

Visit www.wailers.com to get the lowdown on all things Wailers, and if you dig reggae and Jamaican music in general, visit www.heartbeatreggae.com. Featured in Goldmine's May 25 indie label issue, the site offers a treasure trove of reissued music from some of the best acts in the island's history. Go to http://www.goldminemag.com/Default.aspx?tabid=825&articleid=5909&articlemid=
4972#4972Articles to read about Heartbeat.

Let me know what you think: Who are some of your favorite reggae artists and why? Black Uhuru always did it for me. I had the pleasure of seeing them in college in the basement of the Eagles Club in Milwaukee and, not only was the band smooth and tight, it proved that Michael Rose is probably the best pure singer the genre has ever produced. There, I said it. Prove me wrong.

Pass the duchy to the left hand side and go see 'em. Remaining tour dates listed below.

5/16/07 - Curitiba Master Hall - Curitiba, Brazil - TBA
5/18/07 - Citybank Hall - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - TBA
5/19/07 - Credicard Hall - Sao Paulo, Brazil - TBA
5/24/07 - The Music Mill - Indianapolis, Ind. -9:30PM
5/25/07 - Summer Camp 2007 - Chillicothe, Ill. - 3:00PM
5/26/07 - Hookahville - Thornville, Ohio - 3:00PM
5/27/07 - Jam on the River - Philadelphia, Pa. - TBA
6/14/07 - San Diego County Fair - Del Mar, Calif. - 7:30PM
6/15/07 - House of Blues - West Hollywood, Calif. - 10:00PM
6/16/07 - Reggae in the Desert - Las Vegas, Nev. - 8:00PM
6/19/07 - Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre - Vail, Colo. - 6:30PM
6/20/07 - Steamboat Summer Concerts - Steamboat Springs, Colo. - 7:00PM
6/23/07 - Tulalip Tribes Amphitheatre - Tulalip, Wash. - 8:30PM
6/24/07 - Rialto Theatre Broadway Center for Perf. Arts - Tacoma, Wash. - 8:30PM
6/26/07 - Music on the Half Shell - Roseburg, Ore. - 7:45PM
6/27/07 - Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre - Portland, Ore. - 7:45PM
6/28/07 - Ashland Armory - Ashland, Ore. - 9:00PM
6/29/07 - Arcata Community Center - Arcata, Calif. - 9:30PM
6/30/07 - Marin County Fair - San Rafael, Calif. - 7:30PM
7/2/07 - Summerfest - Milwaukee, Wis. - 10:00PM
7/4/07 - Muskegeon Summer Celebration - Muskegeon, Mich. - 8:00PM
7/5/07 - Comerica CityFest - Detroit, Mich. - 5:30PM
7/9/07 -  Plaza De Los Fueros, Pamplona, Spain
7/10/07 - Heineken Hall, Madrid, Spain
7/11/07 - Bodrum Festival, Turkey
7/13/07 - Bournemouth Opera House, Bournemouth, UK
7/14/07 - National Trust's Lanhydorck Concert, Cornwall, UK
7/20/07 - Malta Jazz Festival, Malta
8/2/07 - Music in the Zoo - Apply Valley, Mich. - 9:00PM
8/3/07 - Summer Alive Concert Series - SImon Estes Amphitheater - Des Moines, Iowa - 8:30PM
8/4/07 - Camp Zoe - Salem, Mo. - TBA
8/5/07 - Lollapalooza 2007 - Chicago, Ill. - 5:00PM
8/10/07 - Innsbrook Pavilion - Glen Allen, VA - 8:00PM
8/11/07 - Loudoun Summer Music Fest - Loudon County, VA - 7:30PM
8/12/07 - Gathering of the Vibes - Bridgeport, CT - 3:30PM
9/11/07 - Stephen C. O'Connell - Gainesville, FL - 7:00PM
9/12/07 - Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL - 7:00PM
9/14/07 - 9/15/07 Sound Advice Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL
 

Never one to go against the family, at least in any mob-related way, Gregg Allman is breaking free of his Allman Brothers Band for an abbreviated solo tour.

Consisting of 13 shows, the tour will take Allman to Italy and Poland for the first time ever. Seven solo U.S. dates have also been confirmed.

In "Midnight Rider" fashion, Allman will saddle up with a group of hand-picked musicians. 

"It's different with my own band," says Gregg, whose band includes Bruce Katz on keyboards, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Steve Potts on drums, Mark McGee on guitar, Jay Collins on saxophone and percussionist Floyd Miles. "With the Allmans, it's a democracy and fans expect the songs to be arranged a certain way. But with me, I'm free to pick up an acoustic and do what I want. We switch things up quite a bit."

Allman is no stranger to the road, but that road does stop at the ocean. And though he and the Allman Brothers Band, formed in 1969, have played overseas numerous times, they've never played Italy or Poland.

"We never got there," Gregg says. "Always meant to, but it just never happened."

For those wanting the full Allman Brothers experience, don't fret. Gregg, co-founder of the band and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, recently did shows at the Beale Street festival in Memphis on May 4 and the New Orleans' Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 5. They also did a marathon 15 shows at the Beacon Theatre during the group's annual New York City residency. The group also played in April at the second annual Wanee Festival in Florida, hosted by the group.

The Allman Brothers Band is going out on tour this summer, starting in late July.
Tour dates are listed below. For more information, go to <http://www.greggallman.com/>  or www.allmanbrothersband.com <http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/> .

Friday, May 25         Lincoln City, Ore.        Chinook Winds
Saturday, May 26     Lincoln City, Ore.        Chinook Winds
Sunday, June 3        San Diego, Calif.        Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
Monday, June 4        Tucson, Ariz.            Rialto Theatre
Wednesday, June 6    Layton, Utah            Kenley Centennial Park
Friday, June 8        Lake Tahoe, Nev.    Harrah's
Saturday, June 9        Piercy, Calif.            Redwood Run
Sunday, June 10        Medford, Ore.            Britt Pavilion
Friday, July 13        Milan, Italy            Arena Civica
Saturday, July 14        Pistia, Italy            Pistoia Blues Festival
Sunday, July 15        Rome, Italy            Stadio Della Pallacorda
Tuesday, July 17        London, England        Stodala Club
Thursday, July 19        London, England        Shepard's Hall

That old theory about "too many cooks in the kitchen" could apply to Motown Remixed Vol. 2. An interesting experiment in theory, this new release pits top studio musicians operating in contemporary Latin music against some of the biggest hits ever produced by Motown in a cross-pollinating, genre mash-up that falls flat on its face more than it succeeds. Talk about your spoiled broth.

Patterned after 2005's Motown Remixed project, which gave Motown classics an electronic, house-music makeover, Motown Remixed Vol. 2 lets producers, DJs and musicians have at it, with decidedly mixed results.

Jr. Walker & The All Stars' "Shotgun," a powerhouse of grind-it-out, gutsy R&B, receives a sunny, technicolor house treatment from Venezuelan synth-pop outfit Los Amigos Invisibles — with help from DJ Afro — and Martha & The Vandellas' "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" gets chopped up and slowed in the David Elizondo mix. Lost is the fluidity and flow of the originals, with Los Amigos Invisibles' humid version of "Shotgun" drawing distracting squiggles all over the thrusting grooves of Jr. Walker And The All Star, but offering little else. Even more disappointing is Elizondo's tepid reworking of "Heat Wave," which blunts the ebullient joy of the group vocals that made the song such a delight. And in the end, maybe welding Latin rhythms with Motown soul isn't the greatest idea. Here, at least, they mix like oil and water, neither genre feeling totally comfortable with the other.

Elizondo, formerly of Univsion, somewhat redeems himself by fleshing out The Temptations' "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" with cool synth washes and minimalist Latin beats that make the original's funk sound fuller, and somehow, even fatter; however, there is an air of artificiality about it that kills the vibe, and the beats feel tacked on and listless.

Reggaeton hot-shit producer SPK adds up-tempo, bossa nova beats to the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," but hardly anything more. This isn't a full-on remix; it's just a studio wizard with too much time on his hand. It stands in sharp contrast to the bewildering Reggaeton mix of high-stepping piano, woofer-blowing electronic beats and hot accordion ooze spread all over Diana Ross' "The Boss." The original would be unrecognizable were it not for Ross, and what comes out is a confused, jumbled mess. Elsewhere, the Miami Mix of the Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine" is immersed in tropical horns and Latin piano to the point of redundancy; it sounds like a horrible Miami Sound Machine outtake.

But then there is the Randy Cantor mix of "I Can't Get Next To You." Maintaining the soul of the original, Cantor surrounds the original vocals with a dizzying array of Latin beats, party sounds and energetic piano. Following Cantor's remix is the Fun Machine Mix of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," a techno wonderland of echoing vocals, big beats, deft sampling and chill grooves that makes you believe remixing is a noble art form.

Unlike The Beatles' Love remix album that came out a while back, Motown Remixed Volume 2 isn't a coherent, cohesive statement of purpose, and it seems to bring out the worst in almost every artist involved with the project. That's what happens when you have a whole bunch of sonic scientists in the lab working on the same problem — that is, how to blend in Latin influences without scarring the originals. Though all the pieces do seem like sincere homages to Motown's glorious past, the execution is messy. Motown fans are probably going to label these experiments as heresy. That was the contention of some who listened to Love. To me, there are no sacred cows. Everything is up for reinterpretation in this age, and when remixes can add new life to the originals, I'm all for it. That's not always the case with Motown Remixed Volume 2, but I'm not ready to bash the intent of the album just yet.

Let me know what you think. Is it wrong to remix versions of original classics from legendary artists that made Motown the hit-producing factory it was? Should modern-day bands, or even skilled producers like George Martin, leave the works of The Beatles alone?

Boats and bling are two things no rap video should ever be without, and now, dance-punk sensations LCD Soundsystem can at least travel the high seas in style with its brand-new Yacht.

Actually, Yacht is the pseudonym for the oddball electro-pop, bedroom recording project of one Jona Bechtolt (pictured at right in a photo by Sarah Meadows), who scored the opening slot for James Murphy's LCD Soundsystem on its upcoming tour. A uniquely weird, but cheery cocktail of blips and buzzes, and other assorted electronic sounds, Yacht's music is not exactly my cup of tea, but head on over to the www.teamyacht.com to judge for yourself.

The tour launched April 30 in San Francisco. Yacht will play all 12 of LCD Soundsystem's announced shows, except the May 11 and 12 gigs in San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively.

If you're in Portland, Ore., for Cinco de Mayo — and really, who wouldn't want to be in Portland on that festive day? — check out the CD release "YACHT on a Yacht" two-part event. For details, visit www.teamyacht.com. When the LCD tour is over, Yacht will go his own way and continue to tour on his own, before joining up with Tussle and later Architecture in Helsinki.

Yacht tour dates are listed below:

Yacht
April 30 - San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine*
May 2 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox*
May 3 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore*
May 5 - Portland, OR 2 Part CD Release YACHT on a yacht party!
May 6 - Chicago, IL @ Metro*
May 7 - Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theater*
May 8 - Toronto, ONT @ Phoenix Concert Theater*
May 9 - Montreal, QC @ Spectrum de Montreal*
May 11 - Boston, MA @ Avalon*
May 12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Studio B*
May 13 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club*
May 14 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall*
May 15 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
May 16 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
May 17 - Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Saloon
May 18 - St. Louis, MO @ Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center
May 19 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory
May 20 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
May 21 - Houston, TX @ Proletariat
May 22 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s ^
May 24 - Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts ^
May 25 - San Diego, CA @ The Che
May 26 - Upland, CA @ Baldy Brewery
May 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo ^
May 28 - Davis, CA @ Delta of Venus ^
May 31 - Olympia, WA @ Manium Warehouse ^
June 02 - Portland, OR @ Holocene ^
June 13 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s #
June 14 - Vancouver, BC @ Richards on Richards #
June 15 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom #
June 16 - San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club #
June 18 - Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse #
June 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre #

* = w/ LCD Soundsystem
# = w/ Architecture in Helsinki
^ = w/ Tussle

Domino Records is still on a Sebadoh reissue jag.
After putting together an outstanding reissue package for the band's undisputed classic Sebadoh III album in 2006, complete with a treasure trove of unreleased material, the label is prepping a deluxe edition of The Freed Man, Sebadoh's first record.
Re-mastered, with 52 total tracks on a single disc, The Freed Man also boasts a wealth of tracks that have never seen the light of day and liner notes from both Lou Barlow and Eric Gaffney, the two antagonists who fought and argued over just about everything while putting together ragged, noisy squalls of indie-rock rage and tender, brutally honest ballads that broke a lot of hearts along the way.
In this day and age, it seems almost unbelievable that an album like this has never been properly released on CD, but such is the case with The Freed Man. It was originally released on Homestead Records in 1989 on cassette and vinyl only, which pretty much relegated Sebadoh to the underground.
Visit www.sebadoh.com or www.dominorecordco.us for more details.

The return of Dinosaur Jr.

In other Barlow related news, the original Dinosaur Jr. lineup, with Barlow on bass and the ever-dependable Murph on drums, has unexpectedly reconvened for a new album called Beyond and along with the Iggy Pop and The Stooges reunion, it is undoubtedly the comeback of the year.
If you've never heard J. Mascis' guitar solos, you are missing out. Wild and untamed, Mascis is not a technician; he plays from the heart and his searing solos show it. Unpredictable and full of raw emotion, they shoot straight at the heart, like a tracer missile from cupid's fighter jet.
Goldmine is doggedly tracking down an interview with the Dinosaur Jr. boys, so keep an eye out for it. As for the new record, it is a monster, on par with anything they've ever done, and that includes Where You Been? Check out the opener "Almost Ready," with its powerful melodic current and torn-and-tattered, distorted guitar glory. Great hooks, solidly executed soloing that's in a league with Neil Young (see the Crazy Horse-style, torn-and-frayed rockers "Pick Me Up" and "Back To The Heart") and rhythms that scorch earth make Beyond an amazing return to form, as do slurred, bittersweet reflections on love and loss like the incredible "Crumble." Dinosaur Jr. sounds like its far from extinct on an album that's going to get a lot of votes for record of the year.



 

Warm as a summer evening, with melodies as light as dandelion fuzz and delicate instrumentation that gives off a hazy glow, the music of Los Angeles singer-songwriter Eleni Mandell is a thrift store of nostalgic wanderings.

Taking '40s-style jazz and wrapping it in a blanket of soft, traditional country charm in the vein of Patsy Cline or Tammy Wynette, Mandell's songwriting is most often compared to Tom Waits — without the junkyard percussion, carny fantasies and whiskey-soaked vocals. 2004's Afternoon was an easy-going delight and the follow-up, Miracle Of Five, has arrived.

The scuttlebutt is she's gone in more of a blues direction, but that the vintage atmosphere of the proceedings is supposed to be true to Mandell past sepia-toned efforts. Blessed with a gorgeously weathered, but winsome voice, Mandell's Americana is full of heart and wry observations on love, loneliness, death and regret.

If you get the chance, go out and see Mandell on her May/June North American tour. In June, she'll be heading out with the Great Lake Swimmers. Dates are listed below:

Friday, May 4 - Malibu, Calif., Malibu Performing Arts Center*
Wednesday, May 9, Toronto, Ont., The Mod Club
Thursday, May 31, Kansas City, Mo., Davey's Uptown
Friday, June 1, Minneapolis, Minn., 7th Street Entry
Sunday, June 3, Chicago, Ill., Schubas

* With Erin McKeown and Melissa Ferrick

With Great Lake Swimmers:

Tuesday, June 5, Boston, Mass., Middle East Upstairs
Wednesday, June 6, New York, N.Y., Joe's Pub (Eleni and GLS play separate shows)
Thursday, June 7, Arlington, Va., Iota
Friday, June 8, Philadelphia, Pa., Tin Angel
Saturday, June 9, Pittsburgh, Pa., Garfield Artworks
Sunday, June 10, Chapel Hill, N.C., Local 506
Monday, June 11, Charleston, S.C., The Map Room
Tuesday, June 12, Atlanta, Ga., The 5 Spot
Wednesday, June 13, Birmingham, Ala., Bottletree Cafe
Friday, June 15, Houston, Texas, Walter's on Washington
Saturday, June 16, Austin, Texas, Emo's Lounge (inside)
Sunday, June 17, Dallas, Texas, Bend Studio
Wednesday, June 20, Los Angeles, Calif., Hotel Cafe
Thursday, June 21, San Francisco, Calif., Cafe Du Nord
Saturday, June 23, Seattle, Wash., Tractor Tavern

Swap Meet

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday ... Record sale, record sale, record sale ... and monster trucks.

Ah, if only that were true. Actually, it's records and records only at the self-proclaimed Mother Of All Rock 'N' Swaps on Sunday, May 13, at the University of San Francisco.

Being the mother of all record swaps, it has a lot of hyperbole to live up to, but KUSF, the studio radio station responsible for putting this on, emphatically says it has vinyl galore, CDs, cassette tapes, photos and tons of rock art.

The event takes place at 2130 Fulton, at MacLaren Hall. The early bird with lots to spend can shell out $20 to get in first at 6 a.m. Want to sleep in a bit and get there later? That's cool. It's $3 to get in at 10 a.m. Moms, evidently, get in free, so if you're female and a little short on cash, give some kid a quarter to pretend he or she is your own flesh and blood.

Vendors, this is for you: it's $60 for your first table (admits two people) and $35 for each extra table (admits one each). Tables must be reserved by May 4. Set-up is from 5:30-9 a.m. (staggered times). Confirmations and load-in schedule will be sent out May 4. Organizers ask that you fill out the slip on the back completely and send it back to them.

For more information, call 415-386-KUSF. You might try sending an e-mail to: kusf@usfca.edu, too. They didn't include contact information in the notice we received.

Oh, by the way, the station says bootleg material is not allowed. The reason being, it's ILLEGAL.