BEATLES ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED AND BOXED

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music announced the release of the original Beatles catalogue, digitally re-mastered for the first time. The entire remastered catalogue will be worldwide available on CD as a box set September 9th, 2009 (9-9-9). All albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London over a four years period. They used state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment in order to keep optimal authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.

14 albums, in stereo. 
The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, plus 'Magical Mystery Tour' which became part of The Beatles' core catalogue when CDs were first released in 1987. 'Past Masters Volume I and II' are now combined as one title and added to the collection for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs.

Original artwork. 
Each CD is packaged with the original UK album art and enriched with expanded booklets, containing original and newly written liner notes, detailed historical information, recording notes and rare photos.

Mini 'Making Of' documentaries. 
It is also the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will be available in a boxed set. The documentaries are only available for a limited period and offer a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere during each recording period.

Pricing information has not yet been released. There will also be a re-issue of mono-albums and a Beatles online game, The Beatles Rock Band, the same day.

Thebeatles.com                                                                      
Thebeatlesrockband.com

PINC

People. Ideas. Nature. Creativity. Het komt allemaal voorbij tijdens de jaarlijkse PINC, op de meest onverwachte manieren en via opmerkelijke invalshoeken. Tien jaar geleden gestart door de heer Peter van Lindonk en zijn team, dit jaar het eerste jubileum, en elk jaar goed voor een inspirerende en rijke beleving, met verrassende sprekers en onderwerpen. Het ene voor het hoofd, het andere voor het hart en het oog krijgt ook meer dan genoeg. Voor alles geldt: 'pinc is an experience you will never, never, never forget'. En dat is echt waar. 

Food for thought, inspiratie, energie, frisse lucht - noem het zoals je wilt, feit is dat PINC beide hersenhelften langdurig prikkelt. 

Wie kan, moet gaan!

Bekijk de website http://pinc.nl/index.php om meer te lezen over de sprekers en hun onderwerpen door de jaren heen. Inmiddels zijn er lokale PINC spin-offs, al dan niet tailor-made, door PINC. 

PINC is trouwens een prachtige suggestie als aanvullende secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarde, want naast de waardevolle schat aan informatie/inspiratie, is het er uitstekend netwerken! 

En neem je pinpas mee, want het (aan de sprekers gelinkte) assortiment in de aanwezige boekenwinkel is onweerstaanbaar. 

12 mei 2009, PINC 10

Marvin Gaye's wife about her husband and his legacy

For the first time in 25 years, Jan Gaye, Marvin Gaye's second wife and mother of two of his children, talked about Marvin's death and his legacy during a talk show april 2nd 2009 (Gaye's 70th anniversary). Check it out, it is worth it. She's open and informative and it is a rare and touching event to see her talk about this topic. She hardly did talk about this over the years, and she is right where she states to be surprised that so little attention was paid to Gaye's 25th anniversary of Marvin's death in the USA. Here, Janis Gaye is pictured with her daughter, Nona Gaye. 

Amsterdam had a LEGENDS evening in the Spirit of Marvin Gaye in Paradiso, on Friday April 3rd. 

Here's the interview. Also check to other interviews on the topic.

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200904/20090401.html

CHECK YOUR HEAD in Paul's Boutique

Not so long ago the Beastie Boys reissued their magnificent sample statement Paul's Boutique'. Unfortunately I just missed the online purchase combo with the T-shirt, but the cd-package satisfied my needs. It is very nice to get into that album again, after so many years. And ever since I bought it, 'Paul's Boutique' has been the name of my Mac. 

On March 31st the Beastie Boys (now 'men') reissued their rocker CHECK YOUR HEAD, which in fact was the first Beastie Album I ever bought. The reissue is full of new stuff, besides the digitally remastered orignal. Nice combo's available (vinyl, digital, CD) on the beautiful website (mentioned below). Hop on to the Paul's Boutique site, too (below).

And by the way: this reissuing thing is not proof of creative poverty; according to Rolling Stone Magazine, the men are currently recording 'some crazy new shit'. 

So watch'a want?

http://paulsboutique.beastieboys.com/purchase/index.html

http://checkyourhead.beastieboys.com/

Marvin Gaye 70

Today, April 2nd 2009, is Marvin Gaye's 70th Birthday. Unfortunately, Gaye was killed by his father 25 years ago, at the age of 44 (one day before his 45th). His birthday as well as the 25th anniversary of his death (April 1st) Will bring us biopics (two in the making), and hopefully some new music from the vaults... Yesterday, Motown released Gaye's first digital album ever, available through iTunes US (not yet in the Netherlands). The album contains previously unreleased material such as an old song (Soulie) and two marvellous remixes of the Leon Ware penned and co-produced 'I Want You'. 

There'll be a Marvin Gaye Legend's Evening in Paradiso Amsterdam tomorrow, presented by DJ Manga (http://legends-tribute.hyves.nl/).

Check Smokey Robinson's article on Gaye for Rolling Stone Magazine, a link to Motown's celebration of Gaye's 70th and the link to Marvin singing the national anthem back in tha days.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939221/the_immortals__the_greatest_artists_of_all_time_18_marvin_gaye

http://classic.motown.com/

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=marvin+gaye&aq=f

Keep Marvin Gaye alive. Cherish his legacy.  

The Return of the legendary OMEGA PloProf

Watch fanatics will be happy to see the return of one of the rarest diving instruments ever: the OMEGA Seamaster 600 'PloProf' (an abbreviation for PLOngeur PROFessionel, Professional Diver in French. Jacques Cousteau and Comex participated in the development of what is probably the biggest diving watch in history. It wasn't very populair in its own time, but it has become highly sought-after amongst collectors over the last years. The same goes for most of OMEGA's remarkable 'species' of diving watches, which disappeared as quick as they occurred. A vintage PloProf in very good condition is rare, wanted and therefore worth a small fortune. OMEGA has now officially announce the rebirth of their diving watch mother ship, in a modern version (1000 meters instead of 600), with a black modernized dial and in modern materials. It comes with the old-skool 'shark-proof' mesh band, or a rubber strap in black or orange. A hot and unexpected reissue that will be priced around 8000 USD). If you prefer vintage, be aware of near perfect fakes and a similar or even higher price. 

BARACUTA and Griffin do their camouflage again

Probably the most classic gents jacket still available is Baracuta's G9. An archetype and very practical. I was shocked when I noticed the mouthwatering British Camo version, a few years ago. It was a collabo by Baracuta and the camo kings at Griffin. Next was a terrfic German camo, and in 2008 a black version with British Camo liner followed. This year's Baracuta x Griffin gave birth to a desert camo version of the G9. Splendid. Check it out: www.griffin-studio.com/shop/product.php?xProd=586

First post

Welcome at Sparrow, my blog on anything that flies by or builds a nest inside my heart and head - old and new, from song to shoe, from biology to horology and so on. 

I named this blog sparrow after a favorite Marvin Gaye song about something seemingly unimportant that became crucial when it was gone. 

Count your blessings. Even if it is a small bird outside.

I'll hope this blog will learn to sing and fly high in the friendly sky!

Paul's Head.