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2012 Gift Guide:
Music & Audio-Related

Whether you are an audiophile or blessed with a tin-ear, here’s an array of some pretty sweet gifts that would fill your life with a bit of rhythm.

Chelco Portable Boombox

Long before Spotify, the easiest way to share music, was to play it.  Loud.  And the best way to do that was with a boombox.  Whether placed on the stoop or perched on your shoulder, there is no better way to pump up the volume and kick it, old school style.

This AM/FM cassette player and recorder includes FM telescopic antenna, automatic level control, full range speaker system; 4 watt output, headphone jack, LED level meter and AC or battery (not included) operation).  So grab your Public Enemy or Beastie Boys cassette, pop it in and hit play.  And that’s the truth, Ruth.

Aloha Elvis POP! Rock Vinyl Figure

Before he wound up dead on a toilet, Seventies Elvis was pretty damned cool.

Jumpsuits, a cape, sideburns and plenty of bling certainly qualify him as a superhero (he also had a headquarters, Graceland and had been appointed Federal Agent-at-Large by no less than, President Nixon).  Granted, his music wasn’t as impressive as it had been a few short years before in his ’68 comeback special, but come on; this is the Elvis you could see teaming up with Batman to fight Liberace and The Penguin in Vegas.  The King stands 3 3/4-inches tall and has a rotating head and comes in a displayable window box.  Thank you; Thank you very much.

Star Trek: the Original Series Soundtrack

Being a Trekkie is more than wearing the uniform.  You need to live each day as if you’re serving on the bridge.  And there is no better way to help convince yourself that you’re serving on the Enterprise and dealing with Tribbles and the Gorn than by playing this new limited edition 15-CD box set in heavy rotations, showcasing all episode scores as heard in all three original seasons of Star Trek (1966-1969).

Original series composers Alexander Courage, George Duning, Jerry Fielding, Gerald Fried, Sol Kaplan, Samuel Matlovsky, Joseph Mullendore and Fred Steiner are all represented in this deluxe collection, their historic work meticulously assembled, restored and remastered to ensure the finest presentation and sound quality possible. A 100-Page CD Booklet, featuring exclusive, in-depth liner notes from film music writer and Star Trek historian Jeff Bond, complements this attractive set, which is housed in a hardcover slipcase.  $225 for the set is a small price to pay to score your life.  Now get out of here and live long and prosper.

 Beatles Yellow Submarine Pop! Rocks Vinyl Figure Set

“Are you, er… blueish? You don’t LOOK blueish.”  If you can’t sail the seas on a Yellow Submarine, you can at least show off your love of the Fab Four in this awesome collection of vinyl figures.  Included are an adorable Paul, John, George, Ringo and a Blue Meanie all packaged individually and standing 3 3/4″ tall and would be a perfect accessory to your home or office.  Perfect for Beatles fans of all ages or the occasional LSD user.

Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest [Blu-ray/2CD]

Next to the Beatles, Queen might very well be the greatest band in the history of pop music.  Now, for the first time, their 1986, largest-ever stadium concert at
the Népstadion in Budapest in front of 80,000 ecstatic fans is available.

This is also Queen’s last tour before Freddie Mercury died and the first Western rock
concert performed in a stadium behind the then Iron Curtain.  And thankfully, preserved. The concert includes 22 songs including Kind Of Magic, Under Pressure, Radio Ga Ga, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Bohemian Rhapsody.  Accompanying the set is a two CD collection of the concert including a total of 27 songs including We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions and Another One Bites The Dust.  This amazing concert is a must have.  Crank it loud and often.

The Beatles Stereo Vinyl Box Set

Thanks to true audiophiles and skinny-jean wearing hipsters, vinyl is back, and now the choice format for the pretentious listener everywhere.  And what better way to celebrate music than with this fourteen album collection of the complete Beatles catalog?  Included are the albums, Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Beatles For Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The White Album, Yellow Submarine, Let It Be, Abbey Road and the 2 LP Past Masters.  Also included is reprints of the original ephemera, and a 12″x12″ book, exclusive to the boxed edition authored by award-winning
radio producer Kevin Howlett.  This set is limited to 50,000 copies and 180 Gram Vinyl Pressings Cut at Abbey Road Studios using the Non-Limited
24-bit Digital Masters Sourced from the Original Analog Master Tapes.

The perfect and must have gift for any music fan on your list.

Except for Pete Best.  He’s still a little pissed.

KISS 1st Album Series 2 12-Inch Action Figures Set 

Based on the original Mego 12″ designs, these KISS figures are ready to rock n’ roll all night and party every day (those slutty Bratz dolls can attest to that).

Highly detailed and featuring 16 points of articulation, these figures are based on the original KISS makeup and costumes as seen on their self titled album that debuted on February 18th, 1974. Each figure comes with a commemorative miniature concert t-shirt (all the better to seduce Barbie with) and a commemorative KISS miniature 2-inch by 2-inch album cover.

Included are the original members, The Demon (Gene Simmons), The Starchild (Paul Stanley), The Spaceman (Ace Frehley) and The Catman (Peter Criss).

The perfect size to pose in compromising positions with Barbie and a cuckolded Ken.

So (25th Anniversary Immersion Box)

Twenty five years ago, So was part of the last wave of albums before compact discs completely took over, resulting in releases constructed out of singles rather than a singular vision.  Now, this phenomenal release has pretty much everything you need (except the music videos and a boom box to play outside your girlfriend’s window).

This Limited Edition Deluxe box set contains:

  • The re-mastered So album, the
    2CD Live in Athens 1987 album, So DNA CD which gives a unique insight
    into the writing and recording of So, experienced via a track by track
    evolutionary process leading you from the early moments when rhythms,
    melodies and lyrical ideas were discovered through the various stages of
    song development and recording. 
  • Two previously unreleased DVD’s
    : Live in Athens 1987 , Directed by Michael Chapman, Executive Producer
    Martin Scorsese. This was the first filmed Peter Gabriel concert, now
    fully restored and pieced together from over 150 reels of original 35mm
    negatives and remixed in 5.1, this concert is made available for the
    first time on DVD.
  • So: Classic Album documentary. The latest
    addition to the acclaimed & award winning Classic Album series tells
    the story behind the making of Peter Gabriel’s 1986 album So and
    features contributions from many of those involved in the album and
    videos, with interviews with Peter Gabriel, co-producer Daniel Lanois
    and many more.
  • 12 AA vinyl: An 180grm So LP mastered at half
    speed to maximize the audio quality & the track listing, unlike the
    original, is that favoured by the artist.
  • Double A side 12 vinyl
    collectible containing two previously unreleased tracks Courage and
    Sagrada plus Don’t Give Up (alternative version piano and bvox mix).
  •  60 page case bound book including an introduction and So DNA summary by
    Peter Gabriel, new liner notes and an extensive collection of rare and
    never before seen photographs.
  •  Also includes a 24 bit download option for all of the audio.   

Surf Age Nuggets: Trash & Twang Instrumentals 1959-1966

Cowabunga!!!  100 of the most iconic and obscure instrumental surf tracks recorded between 1959 and 1966.  Four CDs crammed pack with such artists as Dick Dale & The Del-Tones, Bobby Fuller, The Velvetones, The Shan-Tones, The Valiants, The Ramrods, The Surf Teens, and The Royal Coachmen  

Although the twangy rock n’ roll sound permeated pop culture for half a decade, the obsession died, but the music was never forgotten.  Also included is a 60 page book with song info by Alan Taylor and Dave Burke of Pipeline Magazine and commentary/essays by Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Chris Isaak and James Austin.  A must have for any music geek or anyone who fantasized about doing it on the beach with Annette Funicello.

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