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10 Albums That Were Banned by Record Stores

Eric Alper
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10 Albums That Were Banned by Record Stores

Music doesn’t just move us—it rattles us from time to time. Over the decades, some albums have sparked such controversy that record stores outright banned them. Whether it was due to provocative lyrics, bold imagery, or pushing societal boundaries, these records refused to conform, solidifying their place in history. Here are 10 legendary albums that faced bans—and still managed to leave an imprint.

  1. The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
    Released in 1971, this iconic album came under fire for its provocative cover, designed by Andy Warhol, featuring a working zipper. Some stores deemed it too risqué, refusing to stock it. Despite the backlash, songs like “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses” cemented its classic status.
  2. The Beatles – Yesterday and Today
    Infamously known for its “butcher cover,” which depicted the Fab Four dressed as butchers surrounded by doll parts and raw meat, this 1966 album caused outrage. Record stores pulled it from shelves, and Capitol Records replaced the cover. The original is now a coveted collector’s item.
  3. N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton
    This 1988 rap masterpiece was banned by numerous stores for its explicit content and anti-police themes. Despite—or because of—the controversy, it became a cultural phenomenon, amplifying voices from marginalized communities and sparking debates about freedom of expression.
  4. Prince – 1999
    Prince’s groundbreaking 1982 album faced bans for its suggestive themes and explicit lyrics. Tracks like “Little Red Corvette” pushed the boundaries of what mainstream music could discuss, making Prince both a trailblazer and a target of censorship.
  5. The Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
    This punk rock milestone from 1977 was banned for its title and provocative lyrics. The album’s rebellious energy and unapologetic attitude defined the punk movement, and its banning only added to its notoriety.
  6. Ice-T – Body Count
    The 1992 album by Ice-T’s heavy metal band sparked controversy with the song “Cop Killer.” Many stores refused to carry it, and the uproar led to the track’s removal. The album, however, remains a powerful commentary on systemic issues.
  7. Madonna – Erotica
    Madonna’s 1992 album was banned in conservative regions due to its overtly sexual themes and the accompanying Sex book. Songs like “Deeper and Deeper” and “Erotica” celebrated liberation but faced backlash from moral watchdogs.
  8. Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
    This 1970 debut album by the godfathers of metal was banned in some stores for its occult themes and eerie atmosphere. Tracks like “N.I.B.” and “The Wizard” helped create the template for heavy metal, scaring—and thrilling—listeners worldwide.
  9. Frank Zappa – We’re Only in It for the Money
    Zappa’s 1968 satire of the music industry and societal norms didn’t sit well with everyone. Its cover, parodying Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, was altered by record companies, and stores hesitated to stock it.
  10. 2 Live Crew – As Nasty As They Wanna Be
    This 1989 album was so explicit that it was deemed legally obscene in some parts of the U.S. and banned outright. The ensuing legal battles highlighted the tension between artistic freedom and public decency.

These albums remind us that music is meant to challenge, provoke, and inspire. The bans only amplified their impact, proving that art thrives under pressure. Whether you’ve hummed their melodies or debated their content, these records are testaments to the power of music to disrupt and redefine, even if you couldn’t find them at the local record store.

Groove On Down To Read “The Funk Movement” Reiland Rabaka’s Exploration of Music, Culture, and Politics

Eric Alper
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Groove On Down To Read “The Funk Movement” Reiland Rabaka’s Exploration of Music, Culture, and Politics

Reiland Rabaka explores funk in The Funk Movement Music, Culture, and Politics as a distinct multiform of music, aesthetics, politics, social vision, and cultural rebellion that has been remixed and continues to influence contemporary Black popular music and Black popular culture, especially rap music and the Hip Hop Movement.

The Funk Movement was a sub-movement within the larger Black Power Movement and its artistic arm, the Black Arts Movement. Moreover, the Funk Movement was also a sub-movement within the Black Women’s Liberation Movement between the late 1960s and late 1970s, where women’s funk, especially Chaka Khan and Betty Davis’s funk, was understood to be a form of “Black musical feminism” that was as integral to the movement as the Black political feminism of Angela Davis or the Combahee River Collective and the Black literary feminism of Toni Morrison or Alice Walker. This book also demonstrates that more than any other post-war Black popular music genre, the funk music of the 1960s and 1970s laid the foundation for the mercurial rise of rap music and the Hip Hop Movement in the 1980s and 1990s.

Explore the life of Randy Newman in “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country” by Robert Hilburn

Eric Alper
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Explore the life of Randy Newman in “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country” by Robert Hilburn

Randy Newman is widely hailed as one of America’s all-time greatest songwriters, equally skilled in the sophisticated melodies and lyrics of the Gershwin-Porter era and the cultural commentary of his own generation, with Bob Dylan and Paul Simon among his most ardent admirers. While tens of millions around the world can hum “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” his disarming centerpiece for Toy Story, most of them would be astonished to learn that the heart of Newman’s legacy is in the dozens of brilliant songs that detail the injustices, from racism to class inequality, that have contributed to the division of our nation. Rolling Stone declared that a single Newman song, “Sail Away,” tells us more about America than “The Star-Spangled Banner.” And yet, his legacy remains largely undocumented in book form—until now.

In A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY, veteran music journalist Robert Hilburn presents the definitive portrait of an American legend. Hilburn has known Newman since his club debut at the Troubadour in 1970, and the two have maintained a connection in the decades since, conversing over the course of times good and bad. Though Newman has long refused to talk with potential biographers, he now gives Hilburn unprecedented access not only to himself but also to his archives, as well as his family, friends, and collaborators. Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, John Williams, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Chuck D, James Taylor, and New York Times’ Pulitzer-winning columnists, Thomas Friedman and Wesley Morris, among others, contributed to the book. In addition to exploring Newman’s prolific career and the evolution of his songwriting, A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY also dives into his childhood and early influences, his musical family that ruled Hollywood movie scores for decades, the relationships that have provided inspiration for his songs, and so much more.

As thought-provoking and thorough as it is tender, this book is an overdue tribute to the legendary songwriter whose music has long reflected and challenged the America we know today.

From Page To The Stage: “Superstar Guitars: Explore the Guitars That Changed Music Forever” By Eleanor Jane

Eric Alper
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From Page To The Stage: “Superstar Guitars: Explore the Guitars That Changed Music Forever” By Eleanor Jane

For music lovers, guitar enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the tools that shaped the soundtrack of our lives, Superstar Guitars by Eleanor Jane is a must-read. This stunning collection dives deep into the world of legendary guitars, offering an unparalleled look at the instruments that powered history’s most iconic songs and performances.

Photographer Eleanor Jane takes readers on a global journey, capturing in exquisite detail the six-strings that defined entire eras of music. Each photograph is a tribute to the craftsmanship and cultural significance of these instruments, paired with stories that bring them to life.

Imagine seeing Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock Stratocaster up close, or the Fender Mustang Kurt Cobain thrashed in the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video. From the guitar Bob Dylan used to go electric to Brian May’s handmade Red Special, each chapter is a window into musical history.

Other featured guitars include Eric Clapton’s iconic MTV Unplugged Martin, Phoebe Bridgers’ distinctive Danelectro Baritone, Dave Grohl’s striking Gibson Trini Lopez, Prince’s unforgettable Yellow Cloud, and David Gilmour’s legendary Black Strat, among many more.

Each page of Superstar Guitars offers a feast for the eyes and a deeper appreciation for the role these instruments have played in shaping the soundscape of modern music. Whether you’re a die-hard guitarist, a casual fan, or simply someone who loves beautiful photography, this book delivers an inspiring look at the six-strings that changed the world.

Pick up Superstar Guitars today, and take a front-row seat to the stories behind the strings

Rock and Read: “International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the ’90s Charts” By Neil Collins

Eric Alper
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Rock and Read: “International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the ’90s Charts” By Neil Collins

If the story of Wales in the 1990s was a movie plot, it would all seem so far-fetched. Thankfully, it was all true.

The 1970s and ‘80s were a bleak time for much of Wales: the closure of steel works and coal mines led to mass unemployment while the country’s culture and language was disregarded by politicians and the music industry alike. Some bands even travelled across the Severn Bridge to make sure their records arrived at the London offices sporting an English postmark.

The 1990s changed everything. While Wales was already known for Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Male Voices Choirs, but bands such as Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics and Super Furry Animals exploded into the charts and showed the UK population the breadth of what this small but inherently musical nation could offer. Meanwhile, S4C – the Welsh-language television channel – became increasingly prominent and a new Welsh Assembly was on the horizon…

Featuring fresh analysis and new interviews, International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the ’90s Charts by Neil Collins charts the UK in a decade in which ‘Cool Cymru’ won over the masses and shows how it inspired the still-vibrant Welsh music scene into the 21st century and beyond.

My Next Read: “The City of Hip-Hop New York City, The Bronx, and a Peace Meeting” By Rob Swift And Rasul A. Mowatt

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “The City of Hip-Hop New York City, The Bronx, and a Peace Meeting” By Rob Swift And Rasul A. Mowatt

The City of Hip-Hop New York City, The Bronx, and a Peace Meeting by Rob Swift and Rasul A. Mowatt positions a unique conceptualization of the history of Hip-Hop, that it was a combination of forces that produced the environment for Hip-Hop to specifically grow in the geographies of New York City and its boroughs. This book argues it was the political forces of the 1970s combined with the economic forces of free market capitalism and privatization of public services, neoliberalism, and the social forces of the deindustrialization of major cities and displacement of populations that led the cultural creation of the “Boogie Down” Bronx.

The City of Hip-Hop shows how Hip-Hop is a socio-political reaction that created an alternate reality with a geographic specificity, and it is the interplay with those forces that nurtured it to become the culture force that we know it today in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Berlin, São Paulo, Tokyo, Washington D.C., Seattle, Paris, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Toronto, Cleveland, Johannesburg, Barcelona, Belfast, Gaza City, and elsewhere. Once those of us as fans of the culture zoom out to see such a bigger picture, a much-needed criticism and retelling of the culture and art of Hip-Hop emerges as our understanding.

The New Mastersounds Announce New ‘Live at Cervantes’ Volume One’ Vinyl Record

Eric Alper
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The New Mastersounds Announce New ‘Live at Cervantes’ Volume One’ Vinyl Record

Longstanding international funk titans The New Mastersounds have announced a brand new live album, ‘Live at Cervantes Volume 1,’ available exclusively via the Color Red Vinyl Club. To celebrate the announcement, the UK-formed quartet has shared a digital single “Gonna Get in My Way,” featuring vocalist Shelby Kemp (The Lucky Strokes, Royal Horses) and Chris Spies on keyboards (The Lucky Strokes, Honey Island Swamp Band). The track originally featured vocalist Lamar Williams Jr, son of the late Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams and active touring vocalist for Trouble No More and Oteil and Friends, and appears on the group’s 2019 Billboard-charting record Shake It. Kemp offers a blues-driven Southern flair on the new live rendition, which can be heard HERE.

The Cervantes’ performance was a standout highlight of The New Mastersounds’ 25th anniversary tour in January 2025 as the band embarked on their long-awaited post-COVID return to the states. Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom is a cornerstone in the band’s 25-year-history as they’ve engaged in multiple sold out two-night runs over the years and the venue has been foundational in building the band’s stateside audience. On the longstanding relationship with the venue, bandleader, guitarist, and Color Red founder, Eddie Roberts remarks, “This was a monumental weekend at our favorite club in the states. We captured two nights worth of material and look forward to sharing the energy in the room with our longtime fans and members of the Color Red Vinyl Club.”

The full live album features nine high-octane live renditions of songs that span the band’s vast catalog. The album wouldn’t be complete without fan favorites such as “MRG” and “San Frantico” rounding out side 2 of the record and bringing the stage to your speakers. Outside of the digital release of “Gonna Get in My Way,” the album will not be digitally distributed or available for purchase online or in record stores.

Color Red was founded by Roberts in 2018 as a record label rooted in collaborating to produce new original music by independent artists. Since its inception, the label has worked with artists including George Porter Jr., True Loves, W.R.D. (Robert Walter, Eddie Roberts, Adam Deitch), Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes, Freekbass, Omar Coleman, and several others to ensure their efforts are captured through dollar one. Entering its second year, the Color Red Vinyl Club is a subscription-based vinyl experience that is the only record club releasing brand new, original music by independent artists. Exclusive perks of the monthly vinyl program have included members-only vinyl colorways, enjoying records ahead of their street day, records signed by artists, access to specially curated bundles, and 15% off of all items in the Color Red online shop.

“Supporting the Color Red vinyl club is supporting real-life artists directly with no streaming platforms or middle man standing in the way,” says Roberts, “Each month we are extremely proud to present a brand new release that highlights our signature sound of vintage recording techniques with modern sounds.”

Join the Color Red Vinyl Club & learn more about the program HERE.

Bill Murray Joins Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, and Jimmy Vivino for 2025 Tour

Eric Alper
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Bill Murray Joins Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, and Jimmy Vivino for 2025 Tour

The legendary Bill Murray is teaming up with Gulf Coast Records artists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia (aka “Blood Brothers”) to perform a series of shows in the first few months of 2025. Special Guest on the dates is newly-signed Gulf Coast artist guitarist Jimmy Vivino, whose label debut, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, is set for release on February 14th.

The “Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers” tour kicks off January 3rd and 4th with two sold-out shows in Chicago; continues with multiple dates in San Francisco, Atlanta, New York and Austin; plus dates in Des Moines and Saint Louis; with additional shows to be announced at a later date.

“Mike and I are close friends with Bill’s brother, John,” says Albert Castiglia about how the hook-up happened. “We met John through (fellow Gulf Coast Records label mate) Chris ‘Bad News’ Barnes. John told Bill about the Blood Brothers and that prompted an invitation to play a show at The Murray Brothers annual Caddyshack Golf Tournament in St. Augustine, Florida. Bill sang five songs with the band that night. It was surreal to share the stage with such an icon, but he carried himself onstage like he was just one of the guys; so much fun. Bill had such a good time that he reached out to Mike and told him he wanted to do shows with us. The rest is history!”

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia celebrated the release of their self-titled Blood Brothers album in 2023 with a tour that became one of the hottest tickets of the year. That album, produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, hit #1 on both the Billboard Blues Chart and iTunes Blues Chart and won the 2024 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album of the Year. One of the most-anticipated albums of the year, Blood Brothers featured the multi-Blues Music Award-winners, who then played a highly-successful string of “Blood Brothers” 2023 shows through the summer and fall, culminating with a special appearance at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas that September.

The album also generated extensive radio airplay around the world, accompanied by universal rave reviews:  “…a terrific collaboration.” – American Songwriter; “The universe wants what it wants and, right now, it wants this. Miss it and miss out.” – Rock & Blues Muse; “There was big anticipation that this album would be one of those where one plus one equals better than two. And it does.” – Blues Music Magazine; “Packed with fire, inspiration, and a palpable tight bond between the two principals, this is blues rock with some strong songs.” – Glide Magazine.

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia are true “Blood Brothers” in life and in the music they create both individually and collectively, joining forces in a collaborative effort of songwriting and performances to create a total listening experience greater than the sum of its parts.  Added to that process are the talents of producers Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, who brought fresh ideas to the recording sessions, pushing Mike and Albert creatively and musically to present their best work to date.

“Mike and Albert have a special chemistry together when they plug in and play that few have. They finish each other’s sentences musically,” award-winning guitarist Joe Bonamassa said about the sessions. “Great tunes, great people, great hang! What’s not to like? It was an honor to be involved in this project.”

Bill Murray with His Blood Brothers Tour Current Dates
JAN 3/4 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL – SOLD OUT
JAN 29/30 –   SF Sketchfest– San Francisco, CA​
FEB 6/7 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
FEB 14 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
​FEB 15 – Sony Hall – New York, NY
MAR 25/26 – Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX
APR 11 – Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, IA
APR 12 – The Pageant – Saint Louis, MO

Jesse Dayton Unveils Spring Tour Dates

Eric Alper
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Jesse Dayton Unveils Spring Tour Dates

Heading into the New Year with a bang, Jesse Dayton has announced a highly anticipated
Spring Tour while reviving the untamed spirit of the legendary Road Kings with a pair of special reunion shows. Fans can get a taste of the Road Kings’ razor-sharp blend of punk energy and rockabilly swagger with “Never Be Untrue”, a recently released live single now streaming on all platforms.

The Road Kings weren’t just a band—they were a movement. With a sound that tore through the late ‘90s Texas underground, they became the hard-driving antidote to slick, over-polished rock, leaving a trail of sweat-drenched stages and blistering riffs wherever they played. Jesse Dayton is reuniting with original members Jason Burns and Eric Tucker for two electrifying holiday shows at Houston’s Continental Club on December 27 and 28.

This is more than a reunion—it’s a resurrection of a sound and spirit that still hits harder than ever. Fans can expect the same fire that made the Road Kings notorious for “living on the edge and blazing trails where others feared to tread.”

Before the Road Kings light up Houston, Jesse Dayton wraps up 2024 on the I Hear Thunder Tour with blues titan Tab Benoit. For Dayton, this run is more than just a tour—it’s a reunion.

“Man, playing these shows with Tab has been like coming full circle,” says Dayton. “We go way back. He’s one of the most soulful players I’ve ever shared a stage with, and I’m grateful he brought me along for this ride. Fans are getting one hell of a night with both of us up there.”

Jesse Dayton rolls straight into the New Year with his Spring Tour, bringing his signature mix of roadhouse blues, honky-tonk grit, and electrified roots to stages across the country. From Phoenix to Seattle, and even aboard the Outlaw Country Cruise, Dayton will deliver the kind of raw, no-frills performance that has defined his career.

Fresh off the success of his critically acclaimed album The Hard Way Blues, Dayton continues to prove why he’s one of American music’s most authentic voices. The album, produced by Shooter Jennings, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart earlier this year and solidified Dayton’s reputation for blending punk attitude, Southern roots, and gritty storytelling.

TOUR DATES

Tab Benoit’s I Hear Thunder Tour Featuring Jesse Dayton (Opener)
Dec 20 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
Dec 21 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse

Road Kings Holiday Reunion Shows:
Dec 27 – Houston, TX – Continental Club
Dec 28 – Houston, TX – Continental Club

Jesse Dayton Spring Tour
Feb 22–28 – Miami, FL – Outlaw Country Cruise
Mar 13 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
Mar 15 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
Mar 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Peppermint Club
Mar 18 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Siren
Mar 21 – Portland, OR – Mission Theater
Mar 22 – Seattle, WA – Conor Byrne Pub
Mar 23 – Tacoma, WA – Jazz Bones
May 2 –  New Orleans, LA – Broadside (w/J.D. Simo & Luther Dickinson)

Vince Guaraldi’s Iconic Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Soundtrack Debuts for the First Time

Eric Alper
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Vince Guaraldi’s Iconic Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Soundtrack Debuts for the First Time

Lee Mendelson Film Productions is thrilled to announce the release – for the first time ever – of the complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack for Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, the timeless 13th animated Peanuts special, from writer and creator Charles Schulz, director Phil Roman and producers Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson. Originally airing on January 28th, 1975 on CBS-TV, it went on to be nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s program. The special is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+.

All versions of the album include the original 24 cues that comprise the score of the special – mixed into 22 tracks – most available for the first time – plus another eight bonus or alternative tracks never heard before. This 42-minute soundtrack is the longest individual soundtrack released by LMFP to date.

Guaraldi brought original mid-tempo tunes, his classic favorites, and even a mambo to the score for a journey into love with the Peanuts gang. He utilized a new invention called the ARP String Ensemble synthesizer throughout the special to give the score a distinctive string-laced sound.

Some highlights include: the center piece “Heartburn Waltz” with eight dynamic variations; the longing “Jennie L.” and “There’s Been A Change” with their ballad-like sensibilities; the upbeat “Pawpet Overture;” the playful “Woodstock’s Mambo;” and even some classical pieces like “Freddie’s Mood” that covers Chopin for Snoopy’s pawpet show in the special. There are amazing bonus tracks with completely different but equally engaging takes on the themes from the special. “Last Call For Love,” the final track on the album, is an extended jam that the trio laid down and is a true found treasure from the recording sessions – it has never been heard before.

For the first time, these melodies can be fully appreciated, not hidden underneath dialogue or effects from the special.

The recording features Guaraldi (piano, electric piano, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble electric harpsichord and guitar), Seward McCain (bass), Vince Lateano (drums) and John Scott Trotter as the music supervisor. The soundtrack was produced by Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson; mixed at Bones and Knives by Terry Carleton and restored and re-mastered by Vinson Hudson.

The album will be available January 17, 2025, including an exclusive variant on Heartburn Red vinyl (12” BioVinyl) as a Record Store Day Indie Exclusive, that will be available at participating stores. Pre-Order here. It will also be available on Puppy Love Pink vinyl (12” BioVinyl) from Barnes and Noble. Pre-Order here.

The 42-minute album will also be available on black vinyl (12” BioVinyl), CD, and digitally.

The records and CDs are all eco-minded: the records are made with BioVinyl, a new and unique product that replaces petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste. There will be a 100% CO2 savings compared to traditional PVC vinyl, without sacrificing any acoustic or optical quality. Each record comes in a reusable, compostable PLA bag that is made from 99% renewable material, and the jacket, label, and liner notes are all made from sustainably forested trees for minimum ecological harm. The CD’s packaging will also be made of recycled material, and their paper inserts are from sustainably forested trees as well.

The physical copies will include liner notes that give a track-by-track analysis by Derrick Bang and notes from Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson, sons of Peanuts producer Lee Mendelson and producers of the record. The LP liner notes are four pages, the CD liner notes are eight pages, and all versions contain images from the special, rare photographs and images from the original tape boxes recently re-discovered that led to this release.

Find participating stores and more information about orders here or order from the MVDshop here.

 

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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