Friday, August 31, 2018

MUSIC WORTH BUYING episode: Best Road Trip Music

On the latest episode of MUSIC WORTH BUYING, TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss some of their favorite "road music" they love to play on long drives!



Wednesday, August 29, 2018

William Shatner to release 'Shatner Claus - The Christmas Album'

Five years ago I saw William Shatner perform an amazing concert at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano in support of his outstanding Ponder the Mystery album (you can read my review of the show here). Now comes work the famed actor-director-writer is set to release a full-length holiday album this fall! Here is what we know so far about Shatner Claus - The Christmas Album, which comes out October 26, 2018...



This will be Shatner's first-ever Christmas album, and it will be available on both audio CD and limited-edition red vinyl. In addition to Shatner's leading role, the LP will feature a star-filled lineup that includes Henry Rollins, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Judy Collins, Brad Paisley, Rick Wakeman (Yes), Iggy Pop, Todd Rundgren, guitar great Elliot Easton (The Cars), bluesman Joe Louis Walker and more!


William Shatner performing at The Coach House
on Oct. 25, 2013. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Shatner Claus - The Christmas Album tracklisting

"Jingle Bells" featuring Henry Rollins

"Blues Christmas" featuring Brad Paisley

"Little Drummer Boy" featuring Joe Louis Walker

"Winter Wonderland" featuring Todd Rundgren & Artimus Pyle

"Twas the Night Before Christmas" featuring Mel Collins

"Run Rudolph Run" featuring Elliot Easton

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" featuring Rick Wakeman

"Silver Bells" featuring Ian Anderson

"One for You, One for Me"

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" featuring Billy Gibbons

"Silent Night" featuring Iggy Pop

"White Christmas" featuring Judy Collins

"Feliz Navidad" featuring Dani Bender

"Jingle Bells" featuring Henry Rollins (punk version)


I can't wait to hear this one!

Robert Kinsler

'It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Music From The Soundtrack)' available for the first time ever on CD and Digital October 5, 2018

It's not too early to begin thinking about Halloween, especially when a media release alerting you to the first time ever release of the soundtrack from the timeless "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" this fall!


IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN 
(MUSIC FROM THE SOUNDTRACK)
BY COMPOSER/PERFORMER VINCE GUARALDI
AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON CD AND DIGITAL
COMING OCTOBER 5, 2018
 
CD OFFERINGS INCLUDE AN INTRODUCTION FROM 
PEANUTS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LEE MENDELSON
AND LINER NOTES FROM PEANUTS HISTORIAN DERRICK BANG


One of the most sought-after soundtracks in the beloved collection of music from the iconic Peanuts animated TV specials, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is being made available for the first time ever on Friday, October 5 via Craft Recordings. Featuring music by GRAMMY®-winning composer/performer Vince Guaraldi, the CD package includes a new introduction from the TV show's executive producer Lee Mendelson and insightful liner notes by Derrick BangPeanuts historian and author of Vince Guaraldi at the Piano.
 
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Music from the Soundtrack) features some of the most iconic tracks in pop culture, including the instantly recognizable "Linus and Lucy," as well as the languid, lyrical "Great Pumpkin Waltz." The music was recorded on October 4, 1966 at Desilu's Gower Street Studio in Hollywood, California by Guaraldi (piano) and his longtime friends and trio sidemen - bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey - joined by Emanuel Klein (trumpet)John Gray (guitar) and Ronald Lang (woodwinds). The entire scoring process was overseen by composer, arranger and conductor John Scott Trotter, well-known for a three-decade run as Bing Crosby's music director and close friend.
 
Pre-order It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, on Amazon, via the Craft Recordings Web Store, or find a copy at your local indie record store.
 
Following the astounding popularity of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip and the first two successful Peanuts television specials - A Charlie Brown Christmas and Charlie Brown's All-Stars - It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown debuted October 27, 1966 with a phenomenal 49 percent audience share, meaning 49 percent of the people watching television during those 25 minutes had tuned in to see Charlie Brown.
 
"This is the quintessential Vince Guaraldi for our Peanuts' specials...some of his best atmospheric jazz," Mendelson shares. "Vince's score carries the gang with the autumn leaves, through the scary and cold Halloween night. This music comforts the indomitable faith of Linus, still waiting for his hero since 1966 - forever in our ears, hearts and memories."
 
"Guaraldi had a strong sense of how music could - and should - be employed to maximize the viewing audience's emotional response," writes Bang. "[He] emphatically established the Peanuts 'musical personality' with this third outing, and all subsequent prime-time specials owed much to the groovin' atmosphere that is so prevalent in Great PumpkinGuaraldi had a gig for life...and his legacy lives on, expand[ing] by the year, thanks in great part to the jazz swagger given to an insecure blockhead and his lovably crazy beagle."
 
 
Track listing:
1. Linus and Lucy
2. Graveyard Theme
3. Snoopy and the Leaf/Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)
4. The Great Pumpkin Waltz
5. Linus and Lucy (Reprise)
6. Charlie Brown Theme/Happy Linus
7. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (Reprise)
8. The Red Baron/Military Drum March
9. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (2nd Reprise)
10. Trick or Treat
11. Fanfare/Breathless/Trick or Treat (Reprise)
12. Charlie Brown Theme (Reprise)
13. Breathless
14. It's a Long Way to Tipperary/There's a Long, Long Trail A-Winding/Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag/Roses of Picardy
15. Trick or Treat (2nd Reprise)
16. Linus and Lucy (2nd Reprise)
17. Charlie Brown Theme (2nd Reprise)
 
Pre-order It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, on Amazon, via the Craft Recordings Web Store, or find a copy at your local indie record store.
 
For more info, visit Craft Recordings on FacebookInstagramYouTube and Spotify.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

New Releases Showcase a Diversity of Styles

The last days of summer are yielding some terrific releases including a documentary revisiting one of California's most groundbreaking music festivals, several cinematic-minded masterworks and impressive new releases from power pop champion Michael Simmons and emerging artist Sevi Ettinger.



Artist: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Police, The Cars, more
Title: US Festival: 1982 The US Generation (MVD Visual)
You might like if you enjoy: Santana, The Cars, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, the B-52's
Tell me more: Anyone wanting to discover the roots of the Coachella festival should check out the involving new documentary US Festival: 1982 The US Generation. The marvelous new documentary blends interview and performance footage from the 1982 US Festival, which was an extraordinary event staged in Southern California that was created by Apple visionary Steve Wozniak. The event featured a truly eclectic lineup of popular musicians ranging from classic rock greats to groundbreaking punk and '80s alternative acts. There are a myriad of unforgettable performances. While this writer's favorite performances are The Police's fiery "Can't Stand Losing You," The Cars' "Bye Bye Love" and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' blistering "Refugee," full-length performances of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" and Santana's "Black Magic Woman" also make for essential viewing of the film. There are insightful interviews with Wozniak as well as all the other key names who put on the event and many of the musicians who performed across the three-day event. The release features the documentary in a combo package that includes the special on both DVD and on Blu-ray. Information: icontvmusic.com or plummedia.com.


Artists: The Piano Guys, 2CELLOS, Lindsey Stirling, Tina Guo, more
Title: James Horner  The Classics (Sony Classical)
You might like if you enjoy: James Horner, John Williams
Tell me more: When acclaimed composer James Horner died in plane crash in the Los Padres National Forest in June 2015, he left behind an enduring legacy courtesy of a number of memorable movie soundtracks he composed across four decades. Now in honor of what would have been his 65th birthday (Horner was born Aug. 14, 1953), a number of top-tier musicians have recorded some of Horner's most beloved movie themes on the newly-released James Horner  The Classics. The Celtic-flavored "My Heart Will Go On" from his "Titanic" score is revisited via 2CELLOS, who take full advantage of the cello's emotionally-rich tones. Just as stunning is cello master Tina Guo, who reimagines the intimate theme from "Cocoon." Horner could also rise to the occasion with rousing symphonic grandeur, as evidenced in trumpeter David Elton's terrific take on "The Wrath of Khan" (the score for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in 1982 elevated Horner to one of Hollywood's A-list composers). Another sci-fi film, 2009's "Avatar," was one of Horner's most ambitious efforts (he reportedly worked on the score for two years) and is represented via the symphonic "I See You" (featuring Tina Guo). Other highlights on the disc include "Field of Dreams" (featuring guitarist Craig Ogden) and "The Ludlows" (with violinist Lindsey Stirling performing the evocative theme from "Legends of the Fall"). Overall, these performances capture the spirit of the original versions heard in film and will delight fans of Horner's amazing compositions. Information: SonyMusicMasterworks.com.



Artist: Michael Simmons
Title: First Days of Summer (Crab Apple Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Wilkerson, Yorktown Lads, the Beach Boys
Tell me more: The newly-released Michael Simmons album First Days of Summer captures the spirit of summertime even while creating a sweeping soundscape that means this album will sound great anytime. The lyrics are sharp while the musical chops enhance the enticing melodies; there is just a great positive vibe and freewheeling spirit across the dozen-track run. Simmons' wide-ranging explorations yield a strong crop of great originals and no two sound alike. The soulful "Do Your Best to Care" and explosive "Get Back What You Put In" kick off the full-length album. "No More Girls" is an intoxicating romp that could have been recorded by hitmakers in the '60s; the crunchy pop of "Let's Fall In Love" is one of my favorites on the disc with its mix of Matthew Sweet melodic rock and smart Ric Ocasek styling. "Rudderless Day" is a similarly winning rocker. The lush title track somehow revisits classic Beach Boys territory while sounding completely original. The wonderful baroque-meets-psychedelic "Centre of the Spiral" is a tender and mature look inside a relationship as the best moments of a couple's journey together have passed. Simmons handles most lead vocals and the majority of musical duties on the album with a masterful touch; a few notable guests crop up here and there (including guitarist Robbie Rist, cellist Matthew Carney and lead guitarist Addison Love). Not only are all the songs outstanding and produced perfectly, but the release comes in several wonderful configurations. Information: https://michaelsimmons.bandcamp.com.



Title: Into The Badlands: Season 2 (Varèse Sarabande Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Hans Zimmer, Trevor Yuile
Tell me more: "Into The Badlands: Season 2" features some incredible music composed by Trevor Yuile featured on the AMC original series. Yuile, a Canadian composer perhaps best known for creating the score for the TV series "Orphan Black," delivers a vast range of moods and sonic shades; the tense orchestrations of "Sunny Dream" and "Wedding," the gorgeous "This Is Henry Veil Dies," along with the ambitious "Sunny Vs Moon" (with its blend of Far East and Native American moodscapes) and "Tilda Widow Fight" are among this writer's favorites on the title. In addition to Yuile's powerful and wide-ranging score that is showcased across the 26-track release, there are several notable cuts offered up by other artists. The quick "Into The Badlands Theme" (performed by Warrior Blade), edgy R&B cut "Human" (performed by Rag'n'Bone Man), evocative "The Love I Have For You" (via Alberta Hunter) and festive "Jingle Bells" (courtesy of The Light Crust Doughboys) blend well with Yuile's instrumental magic. Information: VareseSarabande.com.


Artist: Sevi Ettinger
Title: Salty Water (Sevillana Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding
Tell me more: Only 15, Sevi Ettinger is definitely ready for the spotlight. On her newly-issued EP Salty Water, the young songstress showcases a knack for commercial songcraft while also revealing she has plenty to say. Her lead track "Salty Water," recorded via an app on her phone, is a plea for understanding and compassion for the refugee children dealing with a relentless war in Syria: "Those kids out there/ die everyday" she sings at one point, while the vivid chorus finds the songstress emphasizing "Why can't we just be the people we are? Why can't we just be the people we want to be? / It's unfair, I feel like I am falling in the ocean, tasting the salty water." Ettinger has a rich and luring soprano, and the four songs on the EP suggest she has a bona fide pulse on the contemporary music scene. The wistful "Live" and EDM-tinged pop gem "Don't Fall Behind" are also standouts on the disc (produced by Grammy Award-winning Jeff Bova along with Phillip Jarrell and Ettinger). Information: www.seviettinger.com.


Robert Kinsler

Monday, August 27, 2018

Larkin Poe announce new album "Venom & Faith," out November 9, 2018

It's exciting news that Larkin Poe is set to release a new album this fall. "Venom & Faith" will be the first new album release from sisters Rebecca Lovell and Megan Lovell since 2017's Peach. Check out my review of Larkin Poe's incredible set at the 2018 Doheny Blues Festival here.


LARKIN POE

FIND THEIR VOICE WITH NEW ALBUM VENOM & FAITH

UNVEIL NEW SONG ‘BLEACH BLONDE BOTTLE BLUES’

Venom & Faith Is Out November 9, 2018

Pre-order available here: https://lnk.to/BleachBlondeBottleBlues




In a genre as storied as American roots and soul, Nashville-based sister duo LARKIN POE are poised to make a mark all their own with the release of their fourth album Venom & Faith, out November 9, 2018. Rather than concede to the history of the canon they hold dear or rest on their laurels, Larkin Poe persist and emerge rattling, stomping, and sliding into a modern-day depiction of what roots rock should sound like... another chapter in an everlasting story. “It’s a celebration of American roots music as translated by two sisters who are playing the blues in a modern age," says Rebecca Lovell about their new album.

The followup to their critically-acclaimed second album Peach which was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist AlbumVenom & Faith was produced by both the band and their long-time engineer Roger Alan Nichols. Those who pre-order the record will receive "Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues” and “Ain’t Gonna Cry” as instant grat tracks.

Listen to "Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues" here: 
https://youtu.be/wui_CNVtI0E


Recorded in Nashville earlier this year in between headline shows, festival dates such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, and a featured guest performer spot on Keith Urban’sGraffitiU World Tour, Larkin Poe approached Venom & Faith with fierce independence. From Rebecca’s powerful vocals on “Ain’t Gonna Cry” to Megan’s sultry lap steel on “Good And Gone,” the sisters weave their talents into the fabric of their experience and a picture of the American South. “Blue Ridge Mountains” harkens to the sisters’ hometown, “drinking sweet tea every day” with stomping percussion and churning riffs.

Still, the sisters maintain an outlaw mindset in a traditional genre. Unbound by tawdry embellishments, Larkin Poe infuse pop sensibilities into their sound, blending old-school elements of rock and soul with drum samples, hip-hop production values, and resonant lyrics like “California king-sized dreams in a twin bed.” Venom & Faith redefines what it means to make emotionally resonant music while also maintaining boundary-pushing musicality.

Save for two covers ("Sometimes” by blues legend Bessie Jones and Skip James’ “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues”), the rest of the record’s tracks are Larkin Poe originals. Paired with unique production touches like organic percussion sounds — the thumping of dresser drawers, the slamming of back doors, and stomping on hardwood floors — Venom & Faithbleeds Lovell. The sisters once again tackle a majority of the instrumentation on the album with some help from friends, including seasoned guitar legend Tyler Bryant who adds his slide stylings on “Mississippi.”


Larkin Poe (from left, Rebecca and Megan Lovell) rocking at the 2018 Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point, CA. Photo: Bob Steshetz



Venom & Faith
Track listing


1. Sometimes
3. Honey Honey
4. Mississippi (Feat. Tyler Bryant) 
5. California King
6. Blue Ridge Mountains
7. Fly Like An Eagle
8. Ain't Gonna Cry
9. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
10. Good And Gone
The album’s title, Venom & Faith, is taken from a lyric on “Honey Honey” and, according to the sisters, is intended to conjure a southern gothic image. “The title of our last album, Peach, was an homage to our Georgia roots. With this album, we wanted a title that would allude to the duality of our art: gritty guitars offset by gentle vocals; musical moments of both tragedy and joy; the sacred and the profane.”

Venom & Faith will be released independently on November 9, 2018. Album pre-orders and pre-saves on Spotify, iTunes and other digital retailers are available here https://lnk.to/BleachBlondeBottleBlues.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Get Front Row Seats to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Concert: Encore, on BD/DVD on 9/21

Happy Friday everyone. Coming next month, here are details about the must-have "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Concert: Encore"...




From Rush, Heart and Red Hot Chili Peppers to ABBA, Alice Cooper and bluesman Albert King, Get a front row seat to never-before-released Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Concerts
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE
Street Date: September 21, 2018
Blu-ray/DVD SRP: $39.99/$34.99

Available for the First Time at Retail on Any Format, the Four Hall of Fame Ceremonies Featured (2010-2013) Include 44 Iconic Performances from Inductees Such as Genesis, The Stooges, The Hollies, Tom Waits, Dr. John, Leon Russell, Darlene Love, Freddie King, Donovan, Small Faces/Faces, Heart, Rare Artist Collaborations and More!
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Each year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors rock music's pioneering figures during a prestigious black-tie ceremony. As the Hall of Fame enters its third decade, it's these singular induction ceremonies-featuring the biggest names in classic rock from the '60s, '70s and '80s-that have become nearly as epic as the artists they celebrate.
This September, join in the festivities with front row seats to four incredible induction ceremonies with ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE. Never before available at retail on any format, these memorable live concert events from 2010-2013 are filled with the collaborations and jam sessions that have made Rock Hall concerts legendary. And with on-stage reunions, unforgettable induction speeches and iconic performances, these once-in-a-lifetime events will be available at retail in a 2-disc Blu-ray and 4-disc DVD configuration.
Among the singular highlights: 
  • The legendary Canadian power trio Rush performing fiery classics Tom Sawyer and The Spirit of Radio for their fervent fans. 
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers leading a searing all-star jam session of Higher Ground anchored by Slash and Ron Wood.  
  • Heart going Crazy on You before being joined onstage by fellow members of Seattle rock royalty from Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains. 
  • Alice Cooper ripping into ferocious versions of Eighteen and Under My Wheels before closing the set with Rob Zombie on School's Out.
  • The Hurdy Gurdy Man Donovan is joined onstage by John Mellencamp for a chilling performance of Season of the Witch.
  • Complete HOF induction speeces including Don Henley inducting Randy Newman, Neil Young inducting Tom Waits and many more. 
The Rock Hall induction ceremonies further immortalize the legends of rock and the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE puts four singular and electric concerts together into one spectacular collection -- a must-have for music lovers everywhere!
About Time Life
Time Life is one of the world's pre-eminent creators and direct marketers of unique music and video/DVD products, specializing in distinctive multi-media collections that evoke memories of yesterday, capture the spirit of today, and can be enjoyed for a lifetime. TIME LIFE and the TIME LIFE logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. and affiliated companies used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Warner Inc. or Time Inc.
About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's mission is to engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. The institution carries out its mission by giving voice to the stories of the people, artifacts and events that shaped rock and roll - through Museum exhibits, materials in the Museum's Library and Archives, traveling exhibitions, and a wide array of innovative educational programs and activities. The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays (and Saturdays through Labor Day), the Museum is open until 9 p.m. For more information, please call 216.781.ROCK (7625), visit rockhall.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@rock_hall) and Instagram (@rockhall).
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT, 2010-2014
Type: DVD (4 Discs)/Blu-ray (2 Discs)
Running Time: 481 mins.
Genre: Music DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 (16 x 9)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/Stereo 2.0

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Music Worth Buying episode: Ray LaMontagne's 'Part Of The Light' and Matthew Sweet's 'Tomorrow's Daughter'

This week on MUSIC WORTH BUYING, TJR celebrates the release of Ray LaMontagne's Part Of The Light while Robert Kinsler champion's the latest power pop masterwork from rocker Matthew Sweet, Tomorrow's Daughter:


Sights and Sounds: John Lennon, Dave Davies...

Check this out! Neat news for a Thursday morning...


John Lennon's 'Imagine – The Ultimate Collection'

The Legendary Singer/SongwriterMost Celebrated Solo Album Honored With A Number Of Special Audio Releases oOctober 5 Via Geffen/UMe

Six-Disc Imagine – The Ultimate Collection Includes Brand New Remastered Stereo Mix, Raw Studio Recordings,Outtakes, Extras and Audio Documentary That Explores Evolution Of Each Song Plus New Surround Mixes On Blu-ray And Updated Quadrasonic Mix For The Ultimate Deep Listening Experience

Imagine and Gimme Some Truth Films Restored and Remastered With Exclusive, Never-Before-Seen Extras For Home Entertainment Release On October 5 Via Eagle Vision



On October 5, Geffen/UMe celebrates the apex of John Lennon’s solo career with a six-disc box set,Imagine – The Ultimate CollectionThis historical, remixed and remastered 140-track collection is fully authorized by Yoko Ono Lennon,who oversaw the production and creative direction. Spread across four CDs and two Blu-ray discs, this truly unique expanded editionoffers a variety of listening experiences that are at once immersive and intimate, ranging from the brand new Ultimate Mixes of the iconic album, which reveal whole new levels of sonic depth, definition and clarity to these timeless songs, to the Raw Studio Mixesthat allow listeners to hear Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band’s original, unadorned performances, to enveloping 5.1 surround sound mixes, and a Quadrasonic Album Mix, presenting the original four speaker mix remastered in Quadrasonic sound for the first time in nearly fifty years. This ultimate deep listening experience, which features scores of previously unheard demos, rare outtakes and isolated track elements, also includes The Evolution Documentary, a unique track-by-track audio montage that details the journey of each song from demo to master recording via instructions, rehearsals, recordings, multitrack exploration and studio chatter. The comprehensive nature of the full Imagine – The Ultimate Collection is the absolute best representation of a career artist working at the top of his creative game.

Imagine will also be released in concurrent multiple physical and digital configuration, including as a 2CD Deluxe Edition, 1CD remaster, and 2LP 180-gram heavyweight black vinyl edition, as well as 2LP limited edition 180-gram clear vinyl. The digital Ultimate Collection will include all audio from the four CDs and the Deluxe and Standard will also have digital equivalents.                     

Imagine was created with immense love and concern for the children of the world. I hope you enjoy it,” says Yoko Ono Lennon in the preface of the 120-page book that accompanies the box set.

While sifting through boxes upon boxes of the original tapes, engineer Rob Stevens discovered something truly remarkable that had gone unnoticed all these years. “Early 2016, during the gestation period of this project, I'm in the Lenono archives with my people going through tape boxes that have labeling that's unclear, misleading, or missing entirely,” says Stevens. “There's a 1" 8-track that says nothing more on the Ascot Sound label than John Lennon, the date, and the engineer (Phil McDonald), with DEMO on the spine.  No indication of what material was on the tape. One delicate transfer to digital later, the “Imagine” demo, subsequently enhanced superbly by Paul Hicks, appears within this comprehensive set. It was true serendipity.”

This completely never-before-heard original demo, a sparse home recording of Lennon on piano and vocal playing one of his most famous songs, globally launches Imagine – The Ultimate Collection today and is available for streaming and for immediate downloadwith all digital album pre-orders.

Pre-order now and listen to the original demo of “Imagine” at: http://imaginejohnyoko.com

Also on October 5, Eagle Vision will release two films by John & Yoko, Imagine and Gimme Some Truth, on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital platforms. Both films have been hand-restored from the original film reels and remastered in HD, and their soundtracks have been remixed in surround sound by triple GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Paul Hicks. Both physical releases feature exclusive, never-before-seen extras including previously unheard “raw” studio mixes, and a fascinating insight into a photo shoot with David Bailey. All are also available for pre-order at: http://imaginejohnyoko.comImagine will also have a limited theatrical run highlighted by an exclusive, immersive Dolby Atmos mix of the music in selected theaters, with further exclusive extra material.

In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono conceived and recorded the critically acclaimed Imagine at their Georgian country home, Tittenhurst Park, in Berkshire, England, and in the state-of-the-art studio they built in the grounds, as well as at the Record Plant in New York. The title tracks universally appealing lyrics were inspired by Ono Lennons “event scores” in her 1964 book Grapefruit, and she was officially co-credited as writer on the track in June 2017. Upon release, the album went to #1 in six countries –  Australia, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, U.K. and U.S.

The best-selling single of Lennon’s solo career, the titular song was famously written as a plea for world peace. It remains one of the most legendary songs of all time and has earned numerous accolades. BMI designated it one of the top 100 most-performed songs of the 20th century, the Recording Academy inducted it into the GRAMMY® Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted it into their 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Additionally, the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles book named it the second best single of all time and Rolling Stone ranked it number three in their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song has been covered by everyone from Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ray Charles, Madonna, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Diana Ross, Herbie Hancock and Joan Baez.


This new edition takes listeners on an incredibly personal journey through the entire songwriting and recording process – from the very first writing and demo sessions at Lennon’s home studio at Tittenhurst Park through to the final co-production with Phil Spector – providing a remarkable testament of the lives of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their own words.

The original Imagine album has been faithfully remixed from the ground up by the aforementioned Paul Hicks at Abbey Road Studios under the supervision of Yoko Ono Lennon. Hicks utilized high-definition 24-bit/96kHz audio transfers of the album’s original first-generation multitrack recordings for the task and the result is that the instruments and vocal now have a completely new level of clarity, especially when it comes to the surround sound mixes on Blu-ray Disc 1. As Hicks reveals in the book included in the Ultimate Collection, “Yoko was very keen that these Ultimate Mixes should achieve three things – to be totally faithful and respectful to the originals, be generally sonically clearer overall and should increase the clarity of John’s vocals. ‘It’s about John’ she said. And she was right. His voice brings the biggest emotional impact to the album.”

Additionally, Hicks remastered the original four-speaker Spector/Lennon/Ono mix of Imagine in Quadrasonic sound, the first time thatparticular quad mix has been touched since the original release.

The stereo version of the Imagine album proper and its related remixed singles and extras, such as the politically charged “Power To The People,” “God Save Us,” “Do The Oz” and the holiday classic “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” comprise Disc 1. Both album and singlesouttakes encompass Disc 2 alongside a quartet of what have been dubbed Elements Mixes, including strings-only versions of “Imagine” and “How?” as well as the vocals-only version of “Oh My Love” and the piano, bass, and drums instrumentation for “Jealous Guy.” The Elements Mixes have been created from a few basic elements from the original multitrack recordings to reveal deeper levels of detail and clarity in the sources used for the master mixes that were either buried or summed to mono in order to open them up and present them on a wider, clearer, and brighter soundstage.

Engineer Rob Stevens helmed what are known as the Raw Studio Mixes on Disc 3. These mixes capture the exact moment John and The Plastic Ono Band recorded each song raw and live on the soundstage located at the center of Ascot Sound Studios at John & Yoko’s home in Tittenhurst. The tracks are devoid of effects (reverb, tape delays, etc.) and a far cry from the finished product.Highlights include the extended renditions of iconic Imagine tracks like “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die,” “How Do You Sleep?” and “Oh Yoko!” On Blu Ray Disc 2, the Raw Studio mixes are presented in 5.1 surround sound for a unique enveloping listening experience that puts the listener in the center of Ascot Sound Studios with Lennon in front and the band playing all around and behind.

Meanwhile, Disc 4 presents the audio version of The Evolution Documentary, as engineered by Sam Gannon in mono. This documentary tells the full story of each Imagine song as it goes on its own specific, individual journey from demo to master take via instructions, rehearsals, recordings, multitrack exploration, and studio chatter.

On the first Blu-ray disc, Hicks’ masterful high-resolution surround sound mix of both the Imagine album proper and its related singles takes center stage alongside the updated Quadrasonic mix, in addition to hi-res stereo mixes of the singles and outtakes.

The second Blu-ray disc is subtitled “In The Studio and Deeper Listening,” and it features both surround sound and stereo mixes of the extended album versions, outtakes, and Elements Mixes found on the CDs. It also plays home to DJ and longtime family friend Elliot Mintz’s loving 29-minute tribute to the artists, consisting of his revealing, philosophical, honest and humorous interviews with John & Yoko.

Meanwhile, both the Imagine and Gimme Some Truth video releases coming from Eagle Vision have been frame-matched to the original negatives, with every frame hand-cleaned and restored, and the respective soundtracks remixed and remastered in 5.1surround sound.

The Imagine film is a cinematic collage of color, sound, dream, and reality. Produced and directed in 1971 by John & Yoko, who — along with numerous guest stars, including George Harrison, Fred Astaire, Andy Warhol, Dick Cavett, Jack Palance, and Jonas Mekas —all create a world of imagination as rich and moving as the music that accompanies it.

Shooting began during the summer of 1971 at John & Yoko’s Tittenhurst home in Ascot, England, as they began recording sessions for the Imagine album. Shooting continued across the pond in New York where the album was completed at the Record Plant, with Phil Spector co-producing.

The Imagine film is widely regarded as one of the first “video albums,” since it features a different visual treatment for every song on the record. The limited theatrical release of Imagine benefits from a spectacular new and wholly immersive Dolby Atmos mix, along with cinema-exclusive, never-before-seen extras from the recording of the album.

Gimme Some Truth is the groundbreaking, GRAMMY® Award-winning film that chronicles the creative process of how the Imaginealbum came into being, in turn providing a glimpse into Lennon’s creative genius and including many striking, special moments between John & Yoko. The progress of the making of the songs featured on the album is followed through from their inception to the final recording process in Gimme Some Truth, with the film serving as a stunning, fly-on-the-wall document of how one of the most iconic and important albums of the rock era came into being.

Finally, Thames & Hudson (UK) and Grand Central Publishing (US) are set to publish Imagine John Yoko by John Lennon & Yoko Ono onwhat would have been Lennon’s 78th birthday, on October 9. Personally compiled and curated by Yoko Ono Lennon and packed with exclusive, previously unpublished material, Imagine John Yoko is the definitive inside story – told in revelatory detail – of the making of the legendary album and all that surrounded it: the locations, the creative team, the artworks, and the films, in the words of John & Yoko and the people who were there.

John Lennon is one of the world’s most celebrated songwriters and performers of all time. Lennon has been posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY® Award and two special BRIT Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Lennon in the Top 5 of the magazine’s “100 Greatest Singers Of All Time” list. With a message as universal and pertinent today as it was when the album was created, Imagine secures John & Yoko’s collective place in cultural history.



John Lennon: Imagine – The Ultimate Collection [6-disc box set – 4CD+2BD]

CD1 – Imagine
The Album - The Ultimate Mixes Disc 1
Remix in Stereo 16-44.1
Remixed Stereo Album, Singles & Extras

1. Imagine                        
2. Crippled Inside                    
3. Jealous Guy                        
4. It’s So Hard                        
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die    
6. Gimme Some Truth                     
7. Oh My Love                        
8. How Do You Sleep?                     
9. How?                            
10. Oh Yoko!                        
The Singles & Extras
11. Power To The People                     
12. Well… (Baby Please Don’t Go)                
13. God Save Us                         
14. Do The Oz                        
15. God Save Oz                         
16. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)                

CD2 - The Ultimate Mixes Disc 2
New Mix in Stereo 16-44.1
Elements Mixes and Album & Single Outtakes

Elements Mixes
1. Imagine (strings only)                    
2. Jealous Guy (piano, bass & drums)            
3. Oh My Love (vocals only)                
4. How? (strings only)                    
Album out-takes
5. Imagine (demo)                   
6. Imagine (take 1)            
7. Crippled Inside (take 3)                    
8. Crippled Inside (take 6 – alt guitar solo)            
9. Jealous Guy (take 9)                    
10. It’s So Hard (take 6)                
11. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die (take 11)                    
12. Gimme Some Truth (take 4)                
13. Oh My Love (take 6)                    
14. How Do You Sleep? (takes 1 & 2)            
15. How? (take 31)                    
16. Oh Yoko! (Bahamas 1969)                
Singles out-takes
17. Power To The People (take 7)                
18. God Save Us (demo)                    
19. Do The Oz (take 3)        
20. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (alt mix)            

CD3 - Raw Studio Mixes
New Mix in Stereo 16-44.1
Extended Album Tracks & Outtakes – Live At Ascot Sound Studios

Extended Album Versions - Live
1. Imagine (take 10)                     
2. Crippled Inside (take 6)                     
3. Jealous Guy (take 29)                    
4. It’s So Hard (take 11)                    
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die
(take 4 – extended)                   
6. Gimme Some Truth (take 4 – extended)            
7. Oh My Love (take 20)                    
8. How Do You Sleep? (take 11 – extended)            
9. How? (take 40)                     
10. Oh Yoko! (take 1 extended)                 
Out-takes - Live
11. Imagine (take 1)                     
12. Jealous Guy (take 11)                     
13. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die (take 21)                        
14. How Do You Sleep? (take 1)                
15. How Do You Sleep? (takes 5 & 6)            

C4 - The Evolution Documentary
New Mix in Mono 16-44.1
The story of each song on a journey from demo to master via instructions, rehearsals, recordings, multitrack exploration and studio chat

Album tracks only
1. Imagine                       
2. Crippled Inside                    
3. Jealous Guy                        
4. It’s So Hard                    
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die    
6. Gimme Some Truth                    
7. Oh My Love                    
8. How Do You Sleep?                    
9. How?                            
10. Oh Yoko!                    

Blu-ray Disc 1 – Imagine - The Ultimate Mixes
Remixed Stereo Album, Singles, Extras & Outtakes

Imagine - The Album
Remix in 5.1 & Stereo 24-96 
1. Imagine                        
2. Crippled Inside                    
3. Jealous Guy                        
4. It’s So Hard                        
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die    
6. Gimme Some Truth                    
7. Oh My Love                        
8. How Do You Sleep?                    
9. How?                            
10. Oh Yoko!                        

Singles & Extras
Remix in 5.1 & Stereo 24-96
1. Power To The People                
2. Well… (Baby Please Don’t Go)                
3. God Save Us (Bill Elliot vocal)            
4. Do The Oz                    
5. God Save Oz (John Lennon vocal)            
6. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

The Out-takes
New Mix in 5.1 & Stereo 24-96

1. Imagine (demo)                 
2. Imagine (take 1)                    
3. Crippled Inside (take 3)                    
4. Crippled Inside (take 6 alt guitar solo)            
5. Jealous Guy (take 9)                    
6. It’s So Hard (take 6)                     
7. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die (take 11)                     
8. Gimme Some Truth (take 4)                
9. Oh My Love (take 6)                    
10. How Do You Sleep? (takes 1 & 2)            
11. How? (take 31)                     
12. Oh Yoko! (Bahamas 1969)                 
13. Power To The People (take 7)                 
14. God Save Us (demo)                     
15. Do The Oz (take 3)         
16. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (alt mix)               

The Quadrasonic Mixes
Remastered in Quad 4.0 24-96
Original 1971 Quadsonic Album Remastered

1. Imagine                        
2. Crippled Inside                     
3. Jealous Guy                         
4. It’s So Hard                        
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die     
6. Gimme Some Truth                    
7. Oh My Love                
8. How Do You Sleep?                    
9. How?                             
10. Oh Yoko!                        

Blu-ray Disc 2 – In The Studio and Deeper Listening

The Raw Studio Mixes - Extended Album Versions - Live
New Mix in 5.1 & Stereo 24-96
Experience, in immersive Surround Sound, the moment John and The Plastic Ono Band record each song live, from a sonic soundstage at the center of Ascot Sound Studios at John & Yoko’s home in Tittenhurst

1. Imagine (take 10)                
2. Crippled Inside (take 6)                    
3. Jealous Guy (take 29)                    
4. It’s So Hard (take 11)                
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die (take 4 – extended)                    
6. Gimme Some Truth (take 4 – extended)            
7. Oh My Love (take 20)                    
8. How Do You Sleep? (take 11 – extended)            
9. How? (take 40)                    
10. Oh Yoko! (take 1 – extended)                

The Raw Studio Mixes - Out-takes - Live
New Mix in 5.1 & Stereo 24-96

1. Imagine (take 1)                    
2. Crippled Inside (take 2)                    
3. Crippled Inside (take 6 alt guitar solo)        
4. Jealous Guy (take 11)                    
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die (take 21)                        
6. How Do You Sleep? (take 1)            
7. How Do You Sleep? (takes 5 & 6)            
8. How? (takes 7-10)                    
9. How? (take 40 alt vocal)                
10. Oh Yoko! (take 1 tracking vocal)            

The Elements Mixes
From the Master Multitracks
New Mix in 5.1 & Stereo 24-96
Mixes from elements of the original multitracks that demonstrate some of the instrumentations from ‘behind the scenes’

1. Imagine (strings)                   
2. Crippled Inside (upright bass & drums)            
3. Jealous Guy (piano, bass & drums)           
4. It’s So Hard (strings)                   
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die (guitar, bass & drums)                   
6. Gimme Some Truth (electric piano & guitar)       
7. Oh My Love (vocals)                   
8. How Do You Sleep? (strings)               
9. How? (strings)                       
10. Oh Yoko! (acoustic)                   

The Evolution Documentary
New Mix in Mono 24-96
The story of the songs from demo to master in rehearsals, studio chat and mixed multitrack elements

1. Imagine                       
2. Crippled Inside                    
3. Jealous Guy                        
4. It’s So Hard                        
5. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die    
6. Gimme Some Truth                    
7. Oh My Love                        
8. How Do You Sleep?                    
9. How?                            
10. Oh Yoko!                        
11. Power To The People                    
12. Well… (Baby Please Don’t Go)               
13. God Save Us/God Save Oz                
14. Do The Oz                        
15. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)                
16. Tittenhurst Park                    

Imagine John & Yoko – The Elliot Mintz Interviews
New Mix in Mono 24-96
Tribute by DJ and family friend Elliot Mintz featuring revealing, philosophical, honest and humorous interviews with John & Yoko.       

IMAGINE / GIMME SOME TRUTH – DVD, BLU-RAY AND DIGITAL RELEASE

Imagine (Film)
1. Imagine
2. Crippled Inside
3. Good Morning
4. Jealous Guy
5. Don’t Count The Waves
6. It’s So Hard
7. Mrs. Lennon
8. In Bag
9. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die
10. Mind Train
11. Whisper Piece
12. What’s That In The Sky?
13. Power To The People
14. Gimme Some Truth
15. Midsummer New York
16. Oh My Love
17. How Do You Sleep?
18. How?
19. Oh Yoko!
20. Beach / End Credits   

Gimme Some Truth (Film)
1. Imagine
2. Crippled Inside
3. Oh Yoko!
4. Jealous Guy
5. It’s So Hard
6. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die
7. Gimme Some Truth
8. Oh My Love
9. How Do You Sleep?
10. How?
11. Imagine

DVD / Blu-Ray Extras
1. Jealous Guy (raw studio out-take)
2. How? (raw studio out-take)
3. Gimme Some Truth (raw studio out-take)
4. David Bailey photoshoot




Dave Davies Of The Kinks

Announces New Album Decade

To Be Released on October 12th

A Collection of Unreleased Solo Material Recorded Between 1971 - 1979
Shares Previously Unheard 1973 Track "Cradle To The Grave"


Dave Davies / Photo: Kevin Harmon


Founding member of The Kinks Dave Davies has announced the upcoming release of Decade, a new collection of unreleased songs recorded in the 1970's. Davies has also shared the lead track from the record, "Cradle To The Grave," which was recorded in 1973. Decade will be released on October 12th via Red River Entertainment and Green Amp Records, and Davies will be on tour in early 2019.
Listen: Dave Davies - "Cradle To The Grave"
In what may be considered the sequel to 2011’s Hidden Treasures, which chronicled Davies' solo recordings from the 1960's, Decade pulls back the curtain on the legendary guitarist and songwriter's unreleased works spanning 1971 to 1979. Davies writes, "I am so pleased that after all this time these tracks are being released to see the light of day. These songs have been silently nagging at me to be recognised all these years. At last I can proudly present this album Decade to the world. I do hope you all enjoy the music."
Decade is currently available for pre-order.
Years prior to the issue of his first “proper” solo album, 1980’s AFL1-3603, Davies was working on the fascinating tracks that make up Decade. The tapes were unearthed by his sons Simon and Martin from “under beds, in attics, in storage,” and properly mixed and mastered in a way that lets these songs shimmer and shine even brighter than they did at inception. Any album recorded over the span of 10 years runs the risk of ending up wildly erratic in tone and style, and yet, Dave’s Decade is surprisingly cohesive, the songs working together beautifully as songs on great albums do. 
The period 1973 to 1975 saw The Kinks make the move into their own recording studio, Konk, which Davies took a major role in setting up and developing. “I’m always really into the sound, and the mixes, and gadgets..." writes Davies. "I was able to go in, and make what I thought were demos—these recordings."
Listening to the contemporary, FM radio-friendly quality of these songs, it’s hard to fathom that these solo tracks remained under wraps, particularly as these were born in the aftermath of clear Dave Davies triumphs such as “Strangers” and “You Don’t Know My Name,” change-of-pace songs that added considerable value to the early ‘70s Kinks albums they appeared on. But with brother Ray deep into the creation of a series of high-concept albums on which Dave’s songs had no apparent place, these Dave Davies gems remained unissued on both the solo and band fronts. Davies explains, "We were busy, and we were touring, The Kinks were very vibrant that whole period of time. It wasn’t really until the end of the ‘70s that I started to really take my writing seriously. I should have done it anyway—because what’s ‘serious’ and ‘not serious’? Just get stuff out, you know?” In 1978, a song contemporaneous with these sessions, “Trust Your Heart”, was chosen to appear on The Kinks’ Misfits album, and Davies became very active as a solo artist at last, with a series of well-regarded albums in the 1980s and beyond. 
A long-time inductee of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Dave Davies helped shape the landscape of rock and pop music across generations. A seasoned yet spontaneous rock-n-roll visionary, Davies was named one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Dave has released several critical acclaimed albums on Red River Entertainment including his most recent album Open Road, a collaborative project with his son Russ, released in March 2017 and acclaimed by Rolling StoneConsequence of SoundPasteSpinThe Washington Post, and many more.

Dave Davies 
Photo by Steve Hockstein

Decade Tracklist:
1. Cradle to the Grave
2. Midnight Sun
3. Islands
4. If You Are Leaving
5. Web of Time
6. Mystic Woman
7. Give You All My Love
8. The Journey
9. Within Each Day
10. Same Old Blues
11. Mr. Moon
12. Shadows
13. This Precious Time (Long Lonely Road)