The Scissors Sisters also do a great cover of "Comfortably Numb" as a dance tune, by the way

This was their first UK single. I was shatteringly disappointed to learn they weren't always like that.

We're starting to see the first devices that enable one to record off of satelite radio. THe RIAA is not fighting this as much as one might think.

[link]

The RIAA is lobbying the FCC, which is expected to require that radio stations transition from analog to higher-quality digital broadcasting within the next few years, to mandate that broadcasts use technology to prevent content copying, similar to its ruling (.pdf) for digital television.

According to Sean Butson, media analyst with financial services company Legg Mason, the RIAA has financial motivations for selectively targeting traditional radio. "When songs get played on satellite radio, recording artists get paid more money than when they get played on terrestrial radio," Butson said. He said satellite radio stations pay 7 percent of revenues to recording artists and copyright holders, whereas radio broadcasters pay less than 1 percent.

eta: This is interesting too:

Frutkin said version 4.0 of the TimeTrax software, which will be available at the end of January, will enable listeners to scan satellite radio channels and record only songs by specific artists. Users will be able to type in "Bruce Springsteen," see the channels that would most likely play him, and then monitor the stations to record him, according to Frutkin.

He talks a lot about his new album with Gillian Welch.

t ears perk up

Robyn Hitchcock did an album with Gillian Welch? Is it good?

Christopher Guest and Michael McKean were in an improv group called The Credibility Gap and did albums in the early 70s and did similar rock stuff.

McKean and Harry Shearer were in the Credibility Gap, along with David L. Lander, who played Squiggy to McKean's Lenny on Laverne & Shirley. McKean & Guest were college roommates. The earliest professional collaboration of theirs that I found was a pilot called The T.V. Show, the cast of which included Shearer, Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal. It also included Martin Mull, whose Fernwood 2Nite sidekick, Fred Willard, has been a mainstay of Guest's films.

Harry Shearer's website has info about and clips from both the Credibility Gap and Spinal Tap, as well as the archived version of his weekly show, Le Show. His page also links to "Chip Rowe's killer Spinal Tap Fan Page", which in turn links to Spinal Tap chess -- it goes to 11!

Joe, do you have the Credibility Gap's records?

Robyn Hitchcock did an album with Gillian Welch? Is it good?

I haven't heard it. It's the album Spooked. David Rawlings is on it too. It's just the three of them sitting in a circle with their guitars, I think. I'll probably check it out.

I've heard Spooked, and I liked it very much. It's available on Emusic if you're signed up.

Joe, do you have the Credibility Gap's records?

No. Let me guess: Chris Guest is on them. I'm going by the stuff I've heard on the Shearer site & years ago on Dr. Demento, plus the Shearer bio & McKean interview.

No. Let me guess: Chris Guest is on them.

No, no! You're right. I was just checking to see if I should tape it for you. I've also got Phil Austin's (of Firesign) solo project Roller Maidens something something.

I had considered doing a sidebar on counter-culture comedy albums for the book since that's kind of a lost world and they were all so music focused. I've got a funny National Lampoon LP (with Christopher Guest) where he natters on (very Spinal Tappian) about his band The Dog's Breakfast and his plans to do a symphony in space with the Sadler-Wells ballet.

I was just checking to see if I should tape it for you.

That would be excellent. And I'd really love to hear the Austin. He & David Ossman are my favorite Firesigns. I think I read that Austin was the one responsible for most of the music, as well as the one who brought a musical sensibility to their approach, and I think that the music is one of the best things about them. Porgie Tirebiter, He's a spy and a girl delighter...

Heh. Back from the Shadows again! Out where an Injun's your friend! Where the veg'tables are green, and you can pee into the stream!

I confess that I don't know one Firesign guy from another, but I do like the songs.