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Prince has scored his first No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 this week, with his new album, "3121," which sold 183,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Prince last reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart with 1991's "Diamonds & Pearls." With the debut of "3121" at No. 1 he now has four No. 1s on the Billboard 200, including 1989's "Batman," 1985's "Around the World in a Day" and 1984's "Purple Rain."
We went to the local farmers' market this morning, a pleasant valley Sunday in So. Cal. While wandering in the shifting tapestry of folks and families, flowers and vegetables, handmade jewelry, t-shirts, kettle corn, and candles, I could hear distant country music.
When we reached the end of the market, there's a guy playing a nice old Martin, singing "Folsom Prison."
It didn't seem like a morning for "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die," what with the good-natured crowd, the bright sun and spring-like feel in the air. I remarked that Buck Owens had passed on Friday. He riffed a bit on "Tiger By The Tail." Buck's cheery melody fit the sunny morning a lot better.
We chatted about Buck for a few minutes; that he was from Texas (his 'real' name was Alvis), that he had a bunch of hits, that he was the pride of Bakersfield - constantly involved in the community - that he and Merle Haggard, both sons of westward-bound dust-bowl families, defined the western in country and western. Now only Merle is left.
As we walked away, our friend was playing Merle's "Mama Tried."
I'm hoping to hear Buck's "Act Naturally" next Sunday.
On Wednesday, March 22, lawyers on both sides of the upcoming murder trial of producer Phil Spector, originally scheduled to go forward in April, agreed to a postponement until September.
Spector's lawyer, Bruce Cutler is tied up in a Federal trial in New York, and the prosecutors will be in trial on the 1988 murder of race-car legend Mickey Thompson. Bruce Cutler is best-known for his defense work on behalf of John Gotti.
Phil Spector is charged with murdering B-movie actress Lana Clarkson hours after they met at the House of Blues rock club on the Sunset Strip. He remains free on one million dollars bail.
Long-time spokesman and Lennon family friend, Elliot Mintz, has made it abundantly clear that the Lennon family does not support or condone the televised seance planned for pay-per-view in April, which will attempt to contact the spirit of John Lennon. Yoko has not personally commented, but Elliot issued a written statement.
"John Lennon was an amazing communicator of heart, mind and spirit. He still speaks to those who choose to listen to his recordings. That was the medium he chose to speak with us. A 'pay per view' seance was never his style. In the end, such a show only benefits the producers. It's another example of the misuse of John's affirmation of life as opposed to the preoccupation of his death.The proposed show strikes me as being tasteless, tacky and exploitative."
Of course, fine feelings never stopped a bunch of money-grubbing producers to my knowledge. Indeed, as someone once said, "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public."
Michael and Victoria Imperioli in partnership with Architectural Digest threw a little bash last night, for the benefit of the Imperioli's Studio Dante in New York.
Cast members of The Sopranos were in attendance to support the cause.
Steve Van Zandt and Tony Sirico.
Michael Imperioli and Steve Van Zandt.
Would it be cool if Tony came to while Carmela plays him 'Born To Run'?!
I just wanted to congratulate the producers of The Sopranos for their fine taste in music this last episode. I think we all know by now that Tony was gut-shot by Uncle Junior and is currently hovering between life and death in an induced coma (while having an out-of-body experience in Orange County.)
Carmela was told by the doc to 'keep him engaged,' and Chris bought Tony a boom box, so he could listen to music while in his coma. Well, of course some of the goodfellas were looking for some Tony Bennett stuff, but Carmela knew better. She brings some CDs from her car - and the first song Tony hears is 'Smoke On The Water.' It doesn't bring him out of the coma, of course, and neither does Petty's 'American Girl'. But it's good to know that mobsters are classic rock fans!
Speaking of Tom Petty, he's finishing up a new album and getting ready to announce tour dates. Billboard story.
Well, we could have seen this one coming, couldn't we? The producers of the upcoming pay-per-view seance-for-John are briskly defending the show, claiming that John was "very interested in the spiritual," and that this is a natural follow-up to a show featuring psychics attempting to contact Diana, Princess of Wales (for which Pay Per View charged $14.95, btw.)
What this sort of circus has to do with spirituality beats me.
Of course, now they're thinking it might be a good idea to contact Yoko, etc., to see if anyone wants to participate.
Well, there were 500,000 people who wanted to check out the Diana show, at $14.95 a pop. There'll be a charge of $9.95 for the John thing.
Yoko? Are you there?
Yes, folks. April 24 on Pay Per View, a group of renowned psychics will attempt to contact the spirit of John Lennon for your viewing pleasure. From sites deemed to be of meaning to the former Beatle, i.e. outside the Dakota, in front of Capitol Records in Hollywood, and in the town in India where Lennon visited with the Maharishi (yes, one of John's favorite people!), psychics will attempt to contact him for the first time.
An Indian spirit reader believes he will be able to receive musical notes and lyrics from Lennon on the other side. These notations will be flown to Los Angeles, where a composer will arrange the notes, add vocals and backgrounds to produce a new song. Could the results be a last musical legacy from beyond? And who the heck will own the copyright?
It should be noted that John's estate has not approved this program and allegedly knows nothing about it.
As far as Capitol Records, it was reported on the local news this morning that the venerable Hollywood landmark may soon be converted to condos. Capitol is not actively looking for a buyer, but the word is out. And if this doesn't give you an indication of how well the record business is doing, then I don't know what does. Perhaps John will oblige by haunting one of the condos. Not.
Pretty big turn-out. Here's a few pix. Thought I'd throw this link up here, so you can read all about the Sex Pistols letter to the Hall (no, they didn't show up), the on-stage dust-up between members of Blondie, and so on.
Kelly looks good blonde. Nice family shot. Black Sabbath are now official.
Elvis Costello and Peter Wolf of J. Geils.
Ozzy and Sharon greeting Brian May of Queen.
Herb Alpert, Sting and Jerry Moss. Herb and Jerry were label heads of A&M Records, and first signed Sting as a member of the Police. Herb and Jerry were deservedly inducted this year.
Since Sly Stone's appearance at his recent Grammy tribute, one couldn't help but wonder, now what's he gonna do? Wonder no more, as they used to say.
We got a nice email from Vet Stone - Sly's sister - who provided us with the link to phattadatta.com, Sly's real-deal official site. The man is on the move, it seems.
