Thursday, October 16, 2014

Sights and Sounds: Supertramp, District 97, Keb' Mo'

Several forthcoming releases have just been announced and will definitely be of interest to fans...

Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' set to land as a deluxe reissue on December 9, 2014

2-CD DELUXE EDITION / 3-LP 180 gm BOX SET / DIGITAL EQUIVALENTS
 
Featuring the cream of Rick Davies’ and Roger Hodgson’s songwriting, Crime Of The Century was the first of the many peaks in Supertramp’s illustrious career; an album that had everything to prove, full of tunes that effortlessly straddled the world of pure pop and progressive rock. The LP eventually peaked at Number 4 on the UK charts and saw the band for the first time on the US Top 40. It was the music and the album’s cinematic sonic qualities that accounted for its impact.
 
Crime Of The Century is not only one of Supertramp’s greatest works, but one of the most highly regarded recordings of 70s rock music. Released in 1974, it put the band on the map after three years of struggle. With the unmistakable blend of the two songwriters – Davies and Hodgson’s – work, it married the sweetness of Hodgson’s ‘Dreamer’ – the band's first big hit single – with the grit of Davies’ similarly beloved ‘Bloody Well Right.’ In ‘School,’ ‘Rudy’ and the title track, the band – Davies, Hodgson, John Helliwell, Bob Siebenberg, and Dougie Thomson – helped define what would soon be known as ‘Adult Oriented Rock.’ This was – and is – not just an album that showed Supertramp's increased maturity, but a timeless gem, crammed with incredible melodies and thoughtful lyrics.
 
This 40th Anniversary edition contains the classic original album, remastered by Ray Staff at Air Studios, and a second disc features their 1975 Hammersmith Odeon concert, mixed from the original tapes by original on-the-night engineer Ken Scott, capturing the band on the verge of stardom, showcasing all of Crime, and also previewing tracks from the then-as-yet-unreleased follow-up, Crisis? What Crisis?
 
The 2-CD package comes with a 24-page booklet of photographs, and a new essay written by Phil Alexander, Editor-in-Chief of Mojo Magazine, containing new interviews with Dougie Thomson, John Helliwell, Ken Scott, Bob Siebenberg, Roger Hodgson, and 1973-1983 Supertramp manager Dave Margereson. Crime Of The Century is also available in 3LP and digital formats.
 
The heavyweight vinyl set in a beautiful box set, cut by Ray Staff at Air Studios, featuring all the material of the two CDs across three 180gm LPs, with an eight-page album-sized booklet with a longer version of Alexander’s essay, and two 10x8 prints.
 
Crime Of The Century was produced by Ken Scott (The Beatles’ ‘White Album’, David Bowie's The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars). His engineering prowess merited a Grammy nomination and became one of the ‘go to’ albums for Hi-Fi demonstrations alongside Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon.
 
Enjoy again the sonic excellence and musical and lyrical sophistication of this well-loved band on this timely celebration of one of Crime Of The Century, one of their landmark recordings.
 
ORIGINAL ALBUM: School / Bloody Well Right / Hide In Your Shell/ Asylum / Dreamer/Rudy / If Everyone Was Listening / Crime Of The Century
 
LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH 75: School / Bloody Well Right / Hide In Your Shell / Asylum / Sister Moonshine / Just A Normal Day / Another Man’s Woman / Lady / A – You’re Adorable / Dreamer / Rudy / If Everyone Was Listening / Crime Of The Century


District 97 Featuring Legendary King Crimson/Asia Vocalist John Wetton Release One More Red Night: Live In Chicago CD – OUT NOW!

London, UK – Prog fans rejoice! A new live CD capturing a set of King Crimson songs performed by District 97 and former King Crimson lead singer John Wetton has been released on Primary Purpose via Cherry Red Records. 

'One More Red Night: Live In Chicago' includes three songs from the iconic landmark album 'Red’; which inspired many musicians including Kurt Cobain. This CD also captures several other well-known songs from the three King Crimson studio albums John Wetton played and sang on, plus their earlier hit “21st Century Schizoid Man”. This is the first release of this recording and features many tracks which are now rarely heard live.

“I've said it before, and I maintain that D97 is the best young progressive band around right now. Gifted players, great material, and a brilliant, charismatic singer in Leslie Hunt. Their shows are an exciting pleasure to attend, and I am proud to work, and be associated with them.” - John Wetton, Annapolis, October 1,2014.

District 97's drummer and 'One More Red Night' producer, Jonathan Schang, says “The first Crimson song I ever played live with John was 'Lament'. To hear 'that voice' coming from right in front of me, seemingly made only stronger by the passage of time, was an experience I shall never forget. Getting to know John more closely, both as a musician and a human being, is an honor and a privilege. I'm thrilled that our joint interpretations of his iconic work with King Crimson are now available for all to enjoy.”

TRACK LIST:

1. ONE MORE RED NIGHTMARE 
2. THE GREAT DECEIVER 
3. LAMENT 
4. THE NIGHT WATCH 
5. FALLEN ANGEL 
6. BOOK OF SATURDAY 
7. 21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN 
8. STARLESS 
9. EASY MONEY

To purchase District 97 & John Wetton 'One More Red Night: Live In Chicago': 
 
District 97’s last album was Trouble with Machines, features a guest appearance by John Wetton on the mini-rock opera, "The Perfect Young Man":

John Wetton’s last solo project was a 2 CD re-issue of Monkey Business and Jack-knife, the former of which includes many of his early 1970s versions of tracks that went on to become some of King Crimson’s most iconic songs: 


Official Web sites: www.district97.net & www.johnwetton.com

Keb' Mo' To Release BLUESAmericana On Vinyl Nov. 11
Pre-order Now Only Through www.KebMo.com
Three-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and contemporary blues artist, Keb’ Mo’ will release his 12th studio album, BLUESAmericana, on vinyl Nov. 11, 2014. The vinyl package will be available through www.KebMo.com, Amazon, select retail and independent record stores, and will include a poster and an album download card with an exclusive instrumental bonus track that was not included on the CD.
Fans can pre-order BLUESAmericana vinyl special packages now exclusively through Keb’ Mo’s official website, www.KebMo.com.  TheBLUESAmericana bundles are offered in three options, including a very limited amount of autographed and numbered LP’s.  All bundles include a complimentary Keb’ Mo’ Spirit of the Holidays EP.  The pre-order packages range from $20-$35.
Since it’s initial release through Kind of Blue Music on April 22, theBLUESAmericana album has remained in the Top 5 on the Soundscan Blues Album chart for 5 months, with 6 weeks in the #1 position. It will be one of the top-selling blues albums of 2014.
Recorded in Nashville, and produced by Keb’ Mo’ and Casey Wasner, the album features ten tracks, nine of which were co-written by Keb’, and has been described as having a mix of personal, raw honesty blended with folksy, upbeat roots rock-type material that is distinctly Keb’ Mo’. "I only make albums when I'm inspired to, and these 10 songs come from a very honest place," says Keb'. 
Earlier this year, Rolling Stone reviewed the album and called it, “Tasteful, well-played and sung, and conspicuously respectful of tradition—mostly blues tradition—this new release from the former Kevin Moore is his 12th since abbreviating his name to Keb’ Mo’ 20 years ago and it, like the man himself, is sturdy and reliable. The instrumentation is precise, well arranged and deliberately subtle, and many of the songs echo a description he himself gives one song: ’where the blues meets the church.’ Inevitably this will turn up in this year’s Grammy nominations—Keb’ Mo’ generally does—and that will not be a bad thing. While he has made a living being all over the place—singing, acting, writing, playing—his music has never lost its core, authentic focus. Which is why ‘more of the same’ isn’t always a bad thing.“
BLUESAmericana Vinyl Tracklist:
  1. The Worst Is Yet To Come (Kevin Moore, Pete Sallis, Heather Donavon)
  2. Somebody Hurt You (Kevin Moore, John Lewis Parker)
  3. Do It Right (Kevin Moore, Jim Weatherly)
  4. I’m Gonna Be Your Man (Kevin Moore, John Lewis Parker)
  5. For Better Or Worse (Kevin Moore, Victoria Shaw, Heather Donavon)
  6. Move (Kevin Moore, Tom Hambridge)
  7. That's Alright (Jimmy Rogers)
  8. The Old Me Better (Kevin Moore, John Lewis Parker)
  9. More For Your Money (Kevin Moore, Gary Nicholson)
  10.  So Long Goodbye (Kevin Moore, Rebecca Corriera)
Over the past two decades, Keb’ has cultivated a reputation as a modern master of American roots music through the understated excellence of his live and studio performances. B.B. King, Buddy Guy, the Dixie Chicks, Joe Cocker, Robert Palmer and Tom Jones have all recorded his songs. His guitar playing has inspired leading instrument makers Gibson Brands to issue the Keb’ Mo’ Signature Bluesmaster acoustic guitar and Martin Guitars to issue the HD-28KM Keb’ Mo’ Limited Edition Signature model. He’s collaborated with a host of artists including Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown, Cassandra Wilson, Buddy Guy, Amy Grant, Solomon Burke, Little Milton and many others. Keb’ also wrote and performs the theme song for the smash sit-com, Mike & Mollyand was music composer for TV’s Memphis Beat.  
He has also been featured in TV and film, playing Robert Johnson in the 1998 documentary “Can’t You Hear The Wind Howl,” appeared three times on the television series, “Touched By an Angel,” and was the ghostly bluesman Possum in John Sayles’ 2007 movie, “Honeydripper.” Most recently, Keb joined the Playing For Change movement, which was created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. Keb’ is featured on thePlaying For Change album: Playing for Change 3: Songs Around the World, which was released June 17, and features over 180 musicians from 31 countries, including Keith Richards, Sara Bareilles, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Taj Mahal and many others. For more information on Keb’ Mo’ or to view a list of upcoming tour dates, please visit http://www.kebmo.com/ and follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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