Rock Encyclopedia

The Beatles‘ classic 1968 animated feature film, Yellow Submarine, has been digitally restored for DVD and Blu-ray release on May 28 (May 29 in North America).  The film’s songtrack album will be reissued on CD on the same date.

Currently out of print, the film has been restored in 4K digital resolution for the first time by Paul Rutan Jr. and his team of specialists at Triage Motion Picture Services and Eque Inc.  Due to the delicate nature of the hand-drawn original artwork, no automated software was used in the digital clean-up of the film’s restored photochemical elements.  This was all done by hand, frame by frame. (more…)

Monday March 19th is the exact 50th anniversary of the release of Bob Dylan’s eponymous first album.  The anniversary sees the release for charity of a digital single and music video of the classic Dylan song “Forever Young” by one of Dylan’s mentors – legendary folksinger/activist Pete Seeger who is 92. (93 on May 3rd.)  The release is being championed by a grassroots campaign www.ForeverPete.com.

ForeverPete.com – modeled on the successful 2010 fan-based endeavor to get 88-year-old Betty White to host “Saturday Night Live” – is run by admirers wanting Seeger to become the oldest musician to reach the music charts.  Current record-holder in US, UK and other singles charts is Tony Bennett (age 85 in 2011).

Seeger has a long history of chart success.  In the 1950s he was a member of chart-topping folk group, the Weavers.  In the 1960s he was frequently in music charts as composer or arranger of hits such as ”If I Had A Hammer”, “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?”, “We Shall Overcome” and his chart-topping song for The Byrds ”Turn! Turn! Turn!”

Seeger’s song benefits the human rights organization Amnesty International – this year commemorating its 50th anniversary.  Seeger is a longtime supporter.

Seeger’s performance is captured in a new music video ( www.youtu.be/Ezyd40kJFq0) and is also the subject of a mini-documentary (www.youtu.be/PW4XxX06AmA).

Seeger is accompanied by eighteen youngsters (age 9-13) – the Rivertown Kids.  Seeger has mentored this group from his home village of Beacon, NY since 2007. In 2011 Seeger and the Kids won the Grammy for Best Childrens’ Album. (more…)

The Legendary Band’s First Appearance on Digital Jukeboxes Across North America Debuts April 1, 2012

Apple Corps, EMI Music, and TouchTunes Interactive Networks, the largest out-of-home entertainment network in North America, announced  that the music of The Beatles, the most iconic band of all time, will now be featured across their network of over 50,000 digital jukeboxes. Starting April 1, 2012, TouchTunes will add The Beatles’ 13 legendary studio albums to its catalog.

“It is a privilege to partner with EMI and Apple Corps Ltd. to make available the sound recordings of the most celebrated band of all time,” said Charles Goldstuck, CEO of TouchTunes Interactive Networks.  “The important addition of The Beatles to our network represents a milestone, not only for our company, but for our industry.”

“We are very pleased to make this iconic catalog available on TouchTunes,” said Roger Faxon, CEO of EMI Group. “TouchTunes has been a great partner of ours, and their network offers a unique listening experience for fans to enjoy the incredible music of The Beatles together.”

In addition to the studio albums, TouchTunes will also make available The Beatles‘ two-volume ‘Past Masters’ compilation, the classic ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ collections, the ’1′ hits collection, and the ‘LOVE’ album.