Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Legacy to Release 30th Anniversary Edition of Billy Joel's The Stranger

Even though Billy Joel had moderate success before 1977, most notably with his single Piano Man, it was the album The Stranger that launched him to the level of superstar.

Sony Legacy will salute that achievement on July 8 with the release The Stranger: 30th Anniversary. The classic album will come in two special editions, a two CD set and a deluxe edition with two CDs and a DVD.

The album was originally released in September, 1977 and marked the first of a run of collaborations with Phil Ramone. It went on to win both Record and Song of the Year at the Grammys for Just the Way You Are and surpassed Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Waters as the biggest selling album in Columbia's history to that date. It's overall U.S. sales have surpassed ten million.

Joel said, "I don't recall particularly feeling 'this is going to be the breakthrough. We were just happy with the album we were making at the time, but now, in hindsight, I can see it was a real important album."

The two CD set includes a remastered version of the album by Phil Ramone and a second CD containing a June 3, 1977 concert at Carnegie Hall. The deluxe edition adds a DVD containing two promotional videos from the album and a sixty-minute appearance from 1978 on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test.

In addition, the two CD set has a 24-page book with liner notes by David Fricke and previously unseen photos. For the deluxe edition, the book is expanded to 48-pages with additional archival shots.

The track listing for each disc:

  • Disc 1 - Original Album
    • Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
    • The Stranger
    • Just The Way You Are
    • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
    • Vienna
    • Only The Good Die Young
    • She's Always A Woman
    • Get It Right The First Time
    • Everybody Has A Dream
  • Disc 2 - Live at Carnegie Hall, June 3, 1977
    • Intro
    • Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
    • Prelude/Angry Young Man
    • New York State Of Mind
    • Just The Way You Are
    • She's Got A Way
    • The Entertainer
    • Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
    • Band Intro
    • Captain Jack
    • I've Loved These Days
    • Say Goodbye To Hollywood
    • Souvenir
  • DVD (Deluxe Edition Only)
    • The Old Grey Whistle Test
      • Miami 2017
      • Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
      • New York State Of Mind
      • The Entertainer
      • She's Always A Woman
      • Root Beer Rag
      • Just The Way You Are
      • Souvenir
      • Ain't No Crime
      • Only The Good Die Young
    • Live Promotional Videos
      • The Stranger
      • Just The Way You Are

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Afternoon Update - R.E.M., Bon Jovi, Roger Waters, UB40, Mel Tillis

In an interview with Billboard, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck says to expect a lot of older material during the upcoming tour. We're obviously going to play the new record. We've been playing nine songs off it, which is 28 minutes or something, so there's a lot of space for us to do stuff from all through our career." He also stated to expect the selected tunes to fit closer to the harder-rock nature of Accelerate rather than their more recent softer material.

Although nothing is yet on paper, Jon Bon Jovi has told sportsillustrated.com that they are working to put together a big show in New York's Central Park.
Roger Waters can stop worrying, although he may be in mourning. His giant inflatable pig which broke free during his performance at Coachella, has been found in the California desert in tatters. The two couples who found the ramains in their yards will split the $10,000 reward along with the four lifetime passes to the festival.
UB40 have announced that departed singer Ali Campbell will be replaced by his brother Duncan. He joins their other brother, guitarist Robin, in the group.

The BBC reports that former spoon player Duncan asked for Ali's blessing who said he was "disappointed but didn't object."

The group will give a ten-song CD away with this Sunday's Mail which contains the last songs recorded with Ali. An expanded seventeen-track version will be released later with seven new songs with Duncan on lead.
Mel Tillis will receive the International Fan Club Organization's (IFCO) Tex Ritter Award for his lifetime contribution to country music, its musicians and its fans. The award will be presented the day before the CMA Music Festival begins.

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Evening Update - John Lennon, Carly Simon, James Taylor

The handwritten lyrics by John Lennon for Give Peace a Chance will be auctioned off in July by Christie's of London.

The lyrics were given to the seller, Gail Renard, who was 16 at the time of the May 1969 bed-in in Montreal. She got into the room with a friend but quickly became friendly with Lennon after offering him a chocolate bar, so friendly, in fact, that she stayed the whole seven days, but only after Lennon himself cleared it with her mother.

Lennon gave her the lyrics during the week. Christies expects it to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000.

Carly Simon has made it clear she has a favorite on this year's American Idol and it's none other than Brooke White who seems to channel Simon at times. She was first impressed after she saw White perform You're So Vain.

"I thought, `Oh my God, this girl is so talented and she sings the song so much better than I ever did or ever could. I was so flattered that she chose the song and more than impressed. I think she should win.
James Taylor Online is reporting a Fall 2008 release of a new covers album on Hear Music. Included in the possible track list are Sea Cruise, In the Midnight Hour, Hound Dog, Shiver Me Timbers, Suzanne, Road Runner, Memphis, Not Fade Away, Summertime Blues and Wasn't That a Mighty Storm.

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Country Music Hall of Fame Inductions - Part 1

The first part of the 2008 inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame were held on Sunday for Emmylou Harris and Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman. Tom T. Hall and the Statler Brothers were also in attendance; however, their induction will be held in a separate ceremony on June 29.

The evening was filled with remembrances and performances by a variety of artists. Attendees included Charlie Louvin, Little Jimmy Dickens, Phil Everly, Earl Scruggs and the Jordanaires.

Kyle Young, director of the Hall of Fame and Museum, opened the evening by saluting all four inductees. "As a class, the 2008 Hall of Fame inductees represent a historical spectrum encompassing the earliest days of commercial country music recordings, the modern evolution of the country gospel quartet tradition, the arrival of more complex themes and social consciousness in country music songs, and the revival of a belief in the integrity of country music's root forms that transcended the genre in a way that few others have matched. That's a pretty complete spectrum. These artists have created a rich and enduring tapestry of music that will always recount the story of our homeland and its people over a period of almost 100 years."

Young then began the Stoneman section of the night by discussing the historical place the singer played in country music. He was already a successful recording artist when he participated in the Bristol Sessions (1927) which started the careers of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.

Performances in salute to Stoneman:

  • Tell Mother I Will Meet Her - Old Crow Medicine Show
  • The Titanic - Cowboy Jack Clement, Roni Stoneman, Donna Stoneman, Patsy Stoneman
  • Blue Ridge Mountain Blues - Cowboy Jack Clement, The Medallion Band
  • Are You Washed in the Blood - Jim Lauderdale, Jordanaires
Former BMI head Frances Preston presented the Hall of Fame Medallion to the Stoneman sisters, saying "Ernest Stoneman had a lifelong motto, 'Don't quit.' And he didn't. Tonight, Pop Stoneman's perseverance is being rewarded."

In introducing the section of the show on Emmylou Harris, Young talked about how Harris "establish country music's cultural importance" for those who may not have taken a real listen to the music.

Performances in salute to Harris:
  • Love Hurts - Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller
  • Boulder to Birmingham - Lucinda Williams
  • Bang the Drum Slowly - Guy Clark
  • Green Pastures - Sam Bush, Jon Randall, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin
Charlie Louvin presented Harris with her madallion, saying "She takes the best parts of our music, expounds on them and makes them better. Because of her passion for this music, she has, in a way, been a welcome ambassador for all that we stand for. With much pride, I welcome Emmylou into the circle of inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame."

Harris gave a heartfelt acceptance speech, thanking her parents, her brother who first exposed her to country music, her daughters and her influences.

The show closed with all of the Hall of Fame members present coming to the stage to sing Will the Circle Be Unbroken.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Afternoon Update - Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, Who, Neville Brothers

Madonna will make history with her April 30 Roseland Ballroom show as all subscribers to Verizon Wireless and Vodafone will have access to four songs from the show. It is believed to be the first show broadcast across multiple wireless networks.

Vivid Entertainment, a major adult entertainment company, is reportedly releasing an eleven minute sex tape of Jimi Hendrix shot in the late-60's.

According to the company, the obtained the tape from a memorabilia collector and say they have authenticated it; however, Hendrix biographer Charles R. Cross says it is not him. Cross told the Associated Press "This is somebody that looks like Jimi or is pretending to look like him, but it certainly didn't look like a dead-on match to me."
Who's Next has turned into What's Next for Pete Townshend. After saying the group would record a new album later in the year and tour, he has decided to withdraw the plans.

"I've emailed everyone to tell them I've changed my mind. I'm not mad. I'm not selfish. I really have to be strong enough to admit that today, I really do not have a clue what to do next."
As the final weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation approaches, Reuters took a look at the now traditional closers for the big event, the Neville Brothers. It is filled with great information on the group then and now. Go to the Yahoo site.

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Mudcrutch Set List From Saturday Performance

On Sunday, we reported about the first show by Tom Petty's old/new group Mudcrutch at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. The group is playing a total of six shows at the famed club over the week to introduce their new album which was released today.

According to an article in Variety, the set included all ten songs from the new album, a couple of covers of traditional songs, along with music originally by Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger McGuinn, Eddie Cochran and Bill Monroe. None of the songs from the original early-70's version of the group made it, including their only single or songs that eventually became Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers standards like Don't Do Me Like That.

The set list from opening night:

  • Shady Grove
  • Orphan of the Storm
  • Six Days on the Road
  • Scare Easy
  • Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
  • This is a Good Street
  • Lover of the Bayou
  • Queen of the Go-Go Girls
  • Oh Maria
  • Summertime Blues
  • June Apple
  • House of Stone
  • Love Please Come Home
  • Crystal River
  • The Wrong Thing to Do
  • Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
  • High School Confidential

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Glen Campbell Returning Home for New Album

Glen Campbell is going back to his original label, Capitol, for his new album. Meet Glen Campbell will be released on August 19 on CD, limited edition vinyl and digitally.

Campbell recorded for Capitol from 1962 until 1981, scoring his biggest successes with the label. After '81, he recorded for a long series of labels while working out numerous personal problems.

For the new album, Campbell has recorded songs associated with many vintage and modern artists, including the Velvet Underground, U2, John Lennon and Travis. Per the press release, "Campbell's distinct guitar playing, along with the clarity and emotion of his powerful vocal performance, come together to give new life to the songs."

Campbell adds, "I really like all of the songs and I had a great time recording them. While I didn't write these songs, this sounds like a Glen Campbell album, which is important to me."

The album was recorded in March and April of this year at The Recording Studio and Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles and is produced by Julian Raymond who has also worked with Roseanne Cash, Shawn Mullins and the Wallflowers. Guests on the album include Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. and Jason Faulkner from Jellyfish, and Chris Chaney from Jane's Addiction.

Campbell will be premiering new songs from the album with special guests this Friday at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.

The track list (order subject to change):

  • Jesus (originally recorded by the Velvet Underground)
  • All I Want Is You (U2)
  • Times Like These (Foo Fighters)
  • Grow Old With Me (John Lennon)
  • Angel Dream (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
  • Sadly Beautiful (Replacements)
  • Sing (Travis)
  • These Days (Jackson Browne)
  • Walls (Circus) (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
  • Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) (Green Day)

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New Releases for Tuesday, April 29, 2008

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Evening Update - Roger Waters, Whitney Houston, Paul McCartney

Roger Waters closed the Coachella Festival on Sunday night with a three-hour show that spanned his entire career. The first portion covered his solo work and some music from Pink Floyd while the second half was a complete playing of Dark Side of the Moon and music from The Wall.

Spectacle was also part of his performance. At the end of the first set, during Animals, a giant inflated pig was released into the sky over the crowd. Unfortunately, the pig became unteathered and floated away. A reward of $10,000 plus four Coachella tickets for life have been offered for its safe return.

Whitney Houston's comeback became a bit derailed over the weekend at the Plymoth Jazz Festival in Tobago. Her seven song, thirty-minute set was marred by a hoarse voice and a bit of confusion as to where she was. After yealling numerous times "I love you Trinidad!" the crowd starting shouting back that she was in Tobago. Reports have her being paid $3 million for the show.
Paul McCartney is talking with publishers on a coffee table book that he would like to put out on his wife Linda for the tenth anniversary of her death.
The U.K. is getting a 2-CD deluxe edition of what we at Vintage Vinyl News feel is Elton John's greatest album, Tumbleweed Connection. Included is an updated version of Madman Across the Water in collaboration with Mark Ronson. It hits the streets there on June 8 with no official date in the U.S. as of this writing.

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Monday, April 28, 2008

Father of SNL Cheri Oteri Killed By Country Songsmith

This one sounds like its out of a Lifetime movie, but it's true. The father of ex-Saturday Night Live cast member Cheri Oteri was stabbed to death Saturday night by country songwriter Richard Fagan. The two were roommates and co-owned Of Music, Inc.

Fagan was arrested on a DUI charge on Saturday night and was bailed out on Sunday morning. At the same time, a neighbor saw that the door to their apartment was locked, Oteri was not answering and it appeared the inside of the apartment was in disarray.

Police and medical examiners, upon inspection, found Oteri's body with a "significant laceration" to the wrist from Fagan's knife. Fagan was still with his bail bondsman at the time of the examination. He was later rearrested and is being held without bail.

Top ten country hits written by Fagan include American for Moe Bandy, Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident) and Be My Baby Tonight for John Michael Montgomery, Only on Days that End in Y for Clay Walker and Do I Love You Enough by Ricochet. His songs have also been recorded by the likes of Neil Diamond (The Good Lord Loves You from September Morn'), George Strait (Overnight Male from Pure Country) and Hank Williams, Jr. (Why Can't We All Just Get a Longneck).

Fagan also released a solo album on Mercury in 1980.

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England's Glastonbury Festival Hosts Veteran Acts

This years Glatsonbury Festival lineup has been leaked almost a day before the official announcement. The June 27 to 29 show is held annually at Worthy Farm in Pilton, U.K. and is generally one of the biggest, if not the biggest, music festival of the year in England.

As in the past, a number of major veteran artists are joining the many modern ones in an eclectic mix of music.

While there will most likely still be changes as the event nears, the current lineup includes Crowded House and Shakin' Stevens on June 28 and Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond and Gilbert O'Sullivan on June 29.

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Afternoon Update - Solomon Burke, Midnight Oil, Phil Collins, more

Starbucks is getting out of the recorded music business.

Even though they had great success with albums by Paul McCartney, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, the company has gone through a restructuring and will let the Concord music group take over operations. Concord had already been doing much of the background work for the Hear Music label.

Shout Factory has announced that Solomon Burke's new album, Like a Fire, will be released on June 10. Guesting on the album will be Eric Clapton, Keb' Mo', Jesse Harris and Ben Harper.
In a U.K. poll, Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell was voted the best song with which to drive. Second was Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody followed by Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild and Queen's Don't Stop Me Now.
Midnight Oil is in the process of remastering their six of its pre-1990 albums for release only on iTunes and other digital sites. The band feels their post-1990 work does not need any work at this time.
Bob Dylan, the Stooges and Chuck Berry have been added to the bill for the Virgin Mobile Festival, August 9 and 10 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Phil Collins has an interesting piece of memorabilia in his possession. It is his handwritten first verison of In the Air Tonight, written on the stationary paper of the man with whom his wife ran away.

"Ironically, when I sang the original demo and wrote down the words, I used a piece decorator's stationary - the decorator who my wife went off with. An interesting piece of memorabilia, should I ever wish to sell it."
Britain's Chris Rea has nothing good to say about former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Even though Blair is a big fan of the singers, he says, "(He is a) bastard murderer. I hate him. He talks about all this international s**t while our country has children who are living on the poverty line and battered women with nowhere to run. Can't we deal with our own backyard before we go to Africa?"

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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Sunday Update - Tina Turner, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson, more

On an upcoming edition of the Oprah Winfrey show, Tina Turner reveals that she will be going back out on tour starting October 1 in Kansas City.

The tour is on the advice of friend Sophia Loren, who told her to stop "lolling about her Swiss home and get back to work."

A Saturday night concert in Sunrise, Florida by Bon Jovi had to be evacuated after a bomb report was called in to local police. Once the entire arena had been scoured by bomb sniffing dogs, the concert was allowed to go on, although starting three hours late.
Janet Jackson accepted the Vanguard Award during Saturday night's GLADD media awards. In accepting, she kept her comments short by saying " I would like to say to everyone in this room that I hope I could always walk worthy of this award."

Host Ellen DeGeneres came back with "Two people who have won this before were Liza Minnelli and Elizabeth Taylor. Both have had their picture taken with Michael Jackson. A coincidence? I don't know."
Cedella Booker, the mother of Bob Marley, had her casket placed in tribute at Kingston, Jamica's National Stadium on Sunday so thousand of mourners could pay their respects. The casket was draped in blue, red, yellow and black, the colors of the Rastafarian faith.
Mudcrutch, the rejuvinated pre-Heartreakers band featuring Tom Petty, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, played a 110-minute set at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. The group played all fourteen songs from the album being released Tuesday plus a few covers.
Def Leppard have launched a "microsite" in support of their album Welcome to the Sparkle Lounge, out Tuesdays. Go to www.thesparklelounge.com/ .
Bill Eugene Burke, who wrote a number of books on Elvis Presley along with publishing the magazine Elvis World, passed away on Thursday at the age of 76.

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Prince Dazzles at Coachella

After years of trying, the organizers of the Coachella festival finally lured Prince to their stage and, no matter the cost, it may be some of the best money they've ever spent.

Prince came on stage about thirty minutes late in a cloud of dry ice, said "Coachella, I am here" and launched into The Bird and Jungle Love with Morris Day singing. From their on out it was a combination greatest hits, collaboration, covers set that left the crowd dizzy with excitement.

Among the covers were a nine-minute version of Radiohead's Creep that, while generally true to the original version, contained a lengthy Prince guitar solo. Also covered were the Beatles Come Together, where he managed to get the crowd chanting "War no more" and Sarah McLachlan's Angel which was sung by a member of his group during a costume change.

It was the hits, though, that anchored the show from 1999 to Cream to Purple Rain. Prince stayed over an hour past when the day's music was supposed to be over, introducing his final song with "They're telling me that we got to go, but I can't leave! Coachella, did we have a good time at this party or what? You deserve it. From now on, this is Prince’s house!”

The set list:

  • The Bird (Morris Day)
  • Jungle Love (Morris Day)
  • The Glamorous Life (Sheila E)
  • 1999
  • I Feel For You
  • Controversy
  • Little Red Corvette
  • Musicology
  • Cream
  • U Got The Look
  • Shhh
  • Another Lover Holen Yo Head
  • Creep
  • Angel (band during costume change)
  • 7
  • Come Together
  • Purple Rain
  • Let’s Go Crazy

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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Saturday Update - U2, James Brown, Gene Simmons

It looks like U2 has scrapped all of the work done so far on their new album and will start from scratch. The Edge said, "We went into this project allowing ourselves the indulgence of making music without thinking about where it was going to end up. We're starting to get serious now".

A federal judge has told James Brown's last partner Tomi Rae Hynie to have the DNA of her son tested for proof of paternity.

Trustees for the estate are questioning Hynie's claim that the boy is, in fact, Brown's child. His will did not mention either Hynie or the son.

Hynie says she has no objection to the test if the other six children of Brown also take tests.
Gene Simmons has shot his second appearance on ABC's Ugly Betty. He is playing himself, as the long-lost father of one of the characters.

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Chart Watch - April 26, 2008

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current music charts. Chart highlights:

  • George Strait leads the comprehensive and country album charts in the area of veteran artists for the third week with Troubadour. It drops two to six on the pop chart and one to two on country.
  • Strait's I Saw God Today becomes his 43rd number one country single.
  • The biggest new entry on the album charts goes to Rush's Snakes & Arrows Live which premiers at number 18 on the comprehensive chart, five on the rock albums and two on the hard rock albums.
  • Asia places its first album of new material since 1990 at number 73 with Phoenix.
  • After a couple of quiet release weeks, get set for a new onslaught of albums from veteran artists next week with releases from Madonna, Def Leppard, Carly Simon and Steve Winwood.
Previous week position noted in parenthesis.
Comprehensive

Top 100 Albums

Top 50 Singles
  • #6 (7) - 4 Minutes - Madonna
  • #33 (34) - I Saw God Today - George Strait

Top 25 Digital Songs
  • #1 (1) - 4 Minutes - Madonna

Top 25 Pop Catalog Albums
R&B

Top 50 R&B Albums

Top 50 R&B Singles
  • None

Top 10 R&B Catalog Albums
Country

Top 25 Country Albums

Top 25 Country Singles
  • #1 (2) - I Saw God Today - George Strait
  • #25 (29) - Every Other Weekend - Reba McEntire

Top 10 Country Catalog Albums
Rock

Top 10 Rock Albums

Top 10 Hard Rock Albums

Top 20 Mainstream Rock Tracks
  • #11 (12) - Life is Beautiful - Sixx: A.M.
  • #18 (--) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue
Adult Contemporary

Top 20 Adult Contemporary Tracks
  • #9 (9) - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher - Michael McDonald
  • #14 (14) - Busy Being Fabulous - Eagles
Dance

Top 25 Dance Club Play
  • #5 (8) - Wanna Be Startin' Something - Michael Jackson with Akon
  • #9 (4) - I'm on Fire - Donna Summer
  • #12 (32) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #19 (17) - Get the Party Started - Shirley Bassey
  • #23 (29) - This is Not Real Love - George Michael & Mutya
Jazz

Top 15 Jazz Albums

Top 15 Contemporary Jazz Albums

Americana

Music Association Top 40 Airplay



British

Top 100 British Albums
Top 100 British Singles
  • #1 (4) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #47 (54) - Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
  • #100 (109) - Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

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