The New York Times profiles Jack White’s efforts to release a highly unusual box set with a Wisconsin connection. Coming to stores next month, “The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records,” focuses on the early releases recorded for Paramount Records, a little-known independent Wisconsin label. The songs are a treasure trove of historic recordings from the early part of the 20th Century. The music includes early examples of blues, gospel, jazz “and hillbilly and ethnic music” and feature performances by luminaries like Jelly Roll Morton, Ma Rainey, Blind Lemon Jefferson and among others. (Read the report)
Slate.com has posted an excerpt of a new book that documents how major entertainment companies and sports teams — and their key properties — became a success. In this instance, the excerpt traces how Lady Gaga became an international pop star. The book, “Blockbusters: Hit-Making, Risk-Taking, and the Big Business of Entertainment,” was written by Anita Elberse and was released earlier this month. (Read the report)
Why is it Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono always seem to be offering backhanded compliments of each other? In the latest round, McCartney said he still pretends to bounce songwriting ideas off John Lennon and that “there’s got to be something” about Ono if Lennon loved her. In a separate interview, Ono told the Associated Press that McCartney “was my husband’s partner and they did a great job and all that. They seemed to have a lot of fun, and I respected that.” She later described McCartney as a “rocker.” (Read the reports here and here)
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Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich talks about the passing of Velvet Underground leader Lou Reed earlier this week. In a case of truly odd bedfellows, the band backed Reed up at a New York concert a couple of years ago to benefit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That pairing led to an even more unlikely collaborative album, 2011’s much-maligned “Lulu.” Ulrich reflects on how he and his bandmates overcame Reed’s notorious prickliness and developed a relationship based on their shared feelings of being outsiders. (Read the report)
Despite having a headline that discusses Dr. Dre’s long-gestating new album, this SOHH article is really more about an upcoming documentary about hip-hop’s social, cultural and economic influence and set to air on VH-1 “this coming winter.” (Read the report)
Los Angeles Times reviews former critic Robert Hilburn’s new biography of Johnny Cash, including pulling out some of the more fascinating and bizarre tidbits of the country music star’s life. It argues that Hilburn aims to humanize Cash and demystify aspects of his legend. (Read the report)
Kenny Rogers discusses with CMT some of the changes sweeping mainstream country music and seems open to the new sounds that are being introduced — influences from pop, rock and hip-hop — and the new fans being drawn to the music. (Read the report)
