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August 4, 2009

10 Camera Mashup : Camera Check

10 Camera Mashup


Eventually this site will be a full guide to cameras & camera news online. For now, I have fashioned a real time camera mashup. Below are the 10 most recent tweets and picuters from flickr about cameras

More feeds to come.

Real Time Cameras

10 Camera Mashup : Camera Check
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Michael Jackson 'Thriller' demos unearth lost gems | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times

Michael Jackson 'Thriller' demos unearth lost gems

02:10 PM PT, Aug 4 2009

Mj In the continuing rush by Michael Jackson fans to celebrate his musical legacy, sales of his most popular songs and albums have set records since his unexpected death in June.

But for the more hardcore historians, it’s meant digging deeper to find the most obscure and often unreleased material possible. In the case of the “The Unheard Music” blog, that search has uncovered a trove of studio demos for Jackson’s legendary “Thriller” album produced by Quincy Jones -- the famed recording that won the Grammy for album of the year.

While many longtime fans have been collecting these versions for years, for the rest of us it’s a fascinating and ultimately rewarding glimpse into the inner workings of a classic.

There are songs that didn’t make the final cut, like “Hot Street,” which houses a potentially great chorus amid dated synthesizer sounds, and a solid if relatively pedestrian ballad, “Carousel.” An early take on “Billie Jean” stands out due to a bleating keyboard bass line instead of the cool funk of the final version.

From there it dives into random outtakes and studio detritus, such as a vocal snippet from a song called “Groove of Midnight” that features Jackson and an engineer discussing his hair growth (Jackson shouts out Sebastian hair products). There’s even a clip of “Starlight,” which was the original title of “Thriller” before Jackson decided it needed to be something catchier.

But the real find here . . .

. .  .is “Love Never Felt So Good,”  a fantastic song that features a multi-tracked Jackson singing over just a piano and finger snaps. It’s a classic vocal performance, rich with his trademark emotion and percussive singing style. It’s truly baffling how this song was never developed further or simply released as is.

Altogether, this collection of demos is an intriguing glimpse into the blueprints of the bestselling album of all time.

Michael Jackson 'Thriller' demos unearth lost gems | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times
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The Unheard Music: Michael Jackson - Thriller Demos

Michael Jackson - Thriller Demos


Whether you like MJ or not, you have to recognize his contributions to pop music and the changes that came because of them. Because of this, a lot of attention has been paid to Thriller and it's success, although not much has been said about the creative process between MJ and Quincy Jones. Bruce Swedien, one of Michael's engineers who worked with him throughout his adult career, is publishing a book about Michael in the studio, but how much will be divulged is in question and, of course, it's much nicer to hear the sessions than to read about them. So, it is with great pleasure that I present a selection of demos and rough versions of songs that did and didn't make the cut from the Thriller sessions. As for details regarding the source of these recordings, unfortunately I know as much as you do. I received these from a post via Guitars 101 which contained no further details about their origins. They clearly sound like high-generation cassette dubs, but they could be from around 1999 when reissues of Michael's first four adult albums were being produced and researched or far earlier. Otherwise, the only things I've done to these files is clean up the tags and file names, so take solace in the fact that they haven't been unnecessarily altered. My only disappointment with these files, apart from the mediocre sound quality, is that MJ and Quincy's version of the Yellow Magic Orchestra's Behind The Mask is not present. Maybe it'll show up in the near future with his family and label preparing to cash in on his death, but until then we'll have to settle for the Greg Phillinganes version which is based on Michael and Quincy's work. Well, that or Eric Clapton's version. Let's pretend I didn't write that last sentence.


Michael Jackson - Thriller Demos

01 Trouble
02 Hot Street
These are clearly professionally produced recordings, but I'm assuming these versions weren't considered final. Hot Street isn't bad but both it and Trouble don't seem release ready compositions.

03 Billie Jean
This is another demo recording, although unlike the version featured on the Special Edition reissue of Thriller (not to be confused with the 25th anniversary edition, the Special Edition has bonus cuts and interviews with Quincy Jones. there are no remixes from Kanye West or anyone of the sort.), this has mostly finished lyrics and is the complete song. The synths sound a little like something Moroder would use.

04 Love Never Felt So Good
A short piano and vocal recording. Actually, this one is quite nice, but who knows if it got any further than this nice little demo.

05 Nite Line
Another rather complete demo recording, just like Trouble and Hot Street. Decent song, but it was to leave it off the album.

06 The Girl Is Mine
07 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
More demos sessions. The Girl Is Mine is a solo demo with a string section and everything. It doesn't sound like a synthesized string section so it's odd if this was just meant to be a demo, but it's pretty short so who knows. As for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', like Billie Jean, this is a rather complete recording. It's kinda rough and MJ doesn't sound like he's worked out his performance yet, but the basic idea is all here including the mama-say-mama-saa-mamoko-sa thing at the end.

08 Thriller (Starlight Session Excerpt)
09 Baby Be Mine (Session Excerpt)
10 Billie Jean (Session Excerpt)
11 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Session Excerpt)
12 Hot Street (Session Excerpt)
13 P.Y.T. (Instrumental Excerpt)
These recordings all appear to be excerpts of sessions with Michael singing over what seems to be finished tracks. The vocals are definitely not finished, and in several places you'll notice different lyrics. This is most notable on Thriller which features the original chorus when the song was known as Starlight. How I wish the full versions of these recordings were out there! Again, they may show up sometime in the near future as there will be a lot of archival research in the very near future, if it hasn't already begun.

14 Groove Of Midnight
Apparently this song was recorded by Siedah Garrett. This doesn't sound like a demo let alone a complete song. This sounds more like Michael messing around while waiting for the tape to be restarted. Whatever it is, it's not much and is more confusing than enlightening.

15 Carousel (Complete Version)
This song almost made the album, but was replaced by Human Nature. Michael Sembello is one of the co-writers. Nice enough track, definitely b-side or compilation worthy.

16 There Must Be More To Life Than This
This track originally listed Freddie Mercury as a co-performer, but he is clearly not here. Just a very polished performance of Michael singing this fine number.

17 Trouble (Alternate Source)
18 Hot Street (Alternate Source)
19 Nite Line (Alternate Source)
There is nothing different between these tracks and the other versions contained here other than someone cleaned up the audio a little bit. If they didn't sound a little better I wouldn't have bothered posting them, but I'm not promising any real clarity here.
The Unheard Music: Michael Jackson - Thriller Demos
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Hamlet Cigars - Headless Cigar Smoker - UK Advert

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Bad #MichaelJackson Fan #Art @mrjyn @nichopoulouzo #youtube #video

#Bad #MichaelJackson Fan #Art @mrjyn @nichopoulouzo #youtube #video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYUXqSwVms

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The Racing Granny Story Part1

Once They lived in Eastbourne
Once they were unknown
Then they travelled to the Planet Mars
And now, they're SUPERSTARS!

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Bi The Way Trailer

BI THE WAY - Premiering at SXSW Film Festival 2008!

Come see BI THE WAY: March 8th at 9 PM (Alamo Lamar 1), March 11th at 7 PM (Dobie Theater), or March 13th at 6:30 PM (Dobie Theater)!

For more details, please visit:
http://2008.sxsw.com/film/screenings/...

And check out our party, happening Saturday night, March 8th at the Enchanted Forest in Austin! Visit http://2008.sxsw.com/film/parties_and...

Send questions/comments to info@bithewaymovie.com

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Jonathan Postal, Photographer

Jonathan Postal, Photographer
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Jonathan Postal, Photographer

Jonathan Postal Photography:
www.jonathanpostal.com

commercial photography
Portrait – Includes photographs of Spain, the cartoonist who drew Trashman; Jerry "The King" Lawler, the professional wrestler; Wayne Wang the director of the films Joy Luck Club, Smoke, and Snow Falling on the Cedars; Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Record Studios in Memphis and the first person to record Elvis Presley; Bob & Tom of the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show; Elmore Leonard, the novelist who wrote Get Shorty; Timothy Dalton; Richard Linklater, the director of the films Mall Rats and Slackers; Wanda Wilson, owner of the P&H Bar and Grill; and Craig Brewer, the independent film maker of The Poor And Hungry.
Travel and Lifestyle - Travel photography from places including as Memphis, Tucson, Phoenix, Route 66, New Mexico, Austin, Texas, St. Louis, Houston, Mane, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando Florida, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Montreal Canada, Detroit, San Francisco, Fresno California, Nashville and Knoxville Tennessee, Toledo Ohio, Denver Colorado, New Orleans Louisiana, and Mississippi, Connecticut, and Tijuana, Mexico.
Editorial - Includes editorial photography shot on assignments for various magazines and books.
Published Editorial - This section displays covers and page layouts as they appeared when published in magazines and books. It includes a Mojo Magazine cover featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan, New Orleans Magazine covers, a Guitar World Magazine cover with Brian Setzer, Eye Magazine covers, a Skin Art magazine cover, a Time Out magazine cover, an album cover for CBS records for The Leon Thomas Blues Band, and a Rolling Stone Magazine cover.
Advertising - Features reproductions of advertisements that Jonathan Postal photographed for clients such as Max Factor, Long Life Beer, SAS, and Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Music - Contains portrait photographs of musicians including Chuck Berry; Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats; Deborah Harry of Blondie; Jimmie Vaughan; Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones; Alejandro Escovedo; Bo Diddly; Jay Farrar of Sun Volt and Uncle Tupelo; Willie Nelson; Blind Mississippi Morris; Cordell Jackson, the Rockin Granny; Albert King; Adrian Balew; and Hank Willams III.
Fashion - Fashion photography for clients such as Vogue Vanity, Vogue Pelle, Caroline Charles and Liz Claiborne.
Still Life - Samples of Jonathan Postal's still life, table top, and product photography.
Architecture - Architectural photographs of the exteriors of skyscrapers, office complexes, resorts, churches, and houses, as well as interior photographs of homes.
Catalog - Sample of Jonathan Postal's catalog photography
Corporate - Sample of Jonathan Postal's corporate photography

fine art photography
Culture & Subculture – Black and White fine art photographs documenting various activities integral to the cultural fabric of America, ranging from boxing, mud wrestling, strip clubs, and burlesque girls to ballet, the classic car culture, bikers, and true believers in the Baptist Church.
Another Roadside Attraction – Color fine art photographs of roadside landscapes along Old Route 66 in the American Southwest, including photos of the Cadillac Ranch and the Dinosaur Parks.
Twenty Images – This section is a rotating portfolio of 10 Black and White photographs focusing on one subculture from Jonathan Postal's larger body of fine art work documenting various aspects of the cultural life of America. It currently features Shout Baptist Church Services, but it will be changed every few months. Future content may include boxers, ballerinas, mud wrestlers, Elvis impersonators, dancers, or even cowboys.
Polaroid Transfers– These are images made using a process which transfers the emulsion of a Polaroid photograph onto a piece of paper during the developing process.
Infrared– These black and white fine art photographs are made using infrared film, which reads a different wave length of light than standard film and human vision. It interprets tones differently and lends a slightly dreamy quality to the images.
Punk Rock and New Wave– These are photographs taken in the 1970’s and early 1980’s documenting the inception of the Punk and New Wave music movements in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. This section includes photographs of The Clash, Deborah Harry and Blondie, Joan Jett and the Runaways, Devo, Iggy Pop, David Byrne of the Talking Heads, Billy Idol of Generation X, Television, Hugh Cornwall of the Stranglers, The Sex Pistols, PIL, The Ramones, Readymades, The Avengers, Crime, The Nuns, The Mutants, Sting and The Police, The Cramps, Mink DeVille, The Damned, The Dead Boys, and The Dictators.

Portrait photography
Weddings – Jonathan Postal photographs weddings in a reportage style using black and white 35mm film.
Animals – Sample of Jonathan Postal's animal photography
Children – Sample of Jonathan Postal's children photography
Madonna and Child – Sample of Jonathan Postal's Madonna and Child photography
Intimate – Sample of Jonathan Postal's intimate photography
Seniors – Sample of Jonathan Postal's senior photography
Family – Sample of Jonathan Postal's family photography
Portraits – Sample of Jonathan Postal's portrait photography

Writing
Route 66 – This travel diary describes the photographer's experiences during his recent trip down Old Route 66 in the American Southwest.
Tijuana – This travel diary describes the photographer's recent trip Tijuana, Mexico.
New Orleans – This travel diary relates photographer's experiences during a documentary photo assignment in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Toledo – This travel diary sardonically muses about life in Toledo, Ohio.
Knoxville – This travel diary describes the photographer's experiences during a documentary photo assignment Knoxville, Tennessee.

Biography
Biography – The biography of photographer and musician Jonathan Postal, who has done many interesting things in the time since his birth in New York City, such as playing in rock bands including Readymades and the Avengers, and traveling around the world on photo assignments. Postal currently resides in Memphis, TN and works as a freelance professional photographer.
Exhibitions – Chronological listing of exhibitions of Jonathan Postal's fine art photography at galleries and museums around the world.
Jonathan Postal, Photographer
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Jonathan Postal, Photographer

Jonathan Postal, Photographer
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