Prince masterwork 'Purple Rain' returns in a big way

Good music and classic albums never go out of style, as evidenced by the re-release of Prince's 'Purple Rain'...

PRINCE'S PURPLE RAIN CATAPULTS TO #4 ON THE BILLBOARD TOP 200

 

#1 On Top Soundtrack Albums Chart

#1 On Vinyl Albums Chart

#1 Top Catalog Albums Chart

 

Purple Rain Deluxe Includes Two CDs - Original Album (2015 Paisley Park Remaster) and From The Vault & Previously Unreleased

 

Purple Rain Deluxe - Expanded Edition Includes Three CDs and One DVD - The Two Discs in Purple Rain Deluxe Plus a Third CD - Single Edits & B-Sides and the Concert Film on DVD - Prince And The Revolution, Live at the Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY March 30, 1985

 

Featuring Previously Unreleased Studio Version of "Electric Intercourse," "Our Destiny / Roadhouse Garden," "Father's Song," & More

LOS ANGELES (July 6, 2017) - Released by NPG Records and Warner Bros. Records in newDeluxe and Deluxe - Expanded Edition formats last week, Prince's Academy Award® and GRAMMY Award®-winning RIAA diamond-certified masterpiece Purple Rain now returns to the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 200 and bows at #4. Combining all versions, the album moved 52,000-plus cumulative units.

 

Additionally, it also captured #1 on the Top Soundtrack Albums Chart, #1 on the Top Vinyl Albums Chart, and #1 on the Top Catalog Albums Chart. As soon as the Deluxe and Deluxe - Expanded Edition versions went live, the record became a mainstay in the Top 10 of iTunes Overall Top Albums Chart.

 

Tastemakers have universally lauded this definitive Purple Rain. Awarding it a highly rare perfect 10.0 score, Pitchfork wrote, "more than three decades on, it still retains all of its power."In a 5-out-of-5-star review, Rolling Stone claimed, "a crisp remaster and discs of bonus material will make you miss the pop auteur even more," andThe New Yorker praised, "louder, brighter, and still undeniable." Entertainment Weekly broke down all 11 unreleased tracks, andBillboard dubbed it "Album of the Week." On television, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon also celebrated the release with a special homage from The Roots.

 

Get Purple Rain Deluxe and Purple Rain Deluxe - Expanded Edition.

 

The Deluxe and Deluxe - Expanded Edition were preceded by the release of three previously unheard anthems-"Electric Intercourse," "Our Destiny / Roadhouse Garden," and "Father's Song." In just a month, "Electric Intercourse" quickly surpassed 1 million Spotify streams. Meanwhile, each respective track would immediately draw critical praise right out of the gate.

 

The two-CD Purple Rain Deluxe set includes the official 2015 Paisley Park Remaster of the original tapes from the soundtrack, presenting an unheard vision of the album overseen and sanctioned by Prince himself. The From The Vault & Unreleased disc boasts eleven gems unearthed from the heart of Prince's storied vault.

 

Six tracks that have never been released or distributed in the collector or bootleg community include: "Possessed" - the '83 Prince solo version, never heard before; "Electric Intercourse" - the studio version not known to exist before it was discovered at Paisley Park; "Father's Song" - a full, five plus minute version that prior to this fans could only find a minute and half snippet of in the movie; "We Can Fuck" - a track that has never circulated as the full, 10 minute version with these lyrics; and "Katrina's Paper Dolls" - a finished master of the song, which has previously only circulated as a demo. Additionally, all of the material is taken from the source and mastered by Bernie Grundman, the mastering engineer who worked on the original album.

 

In addition to the Original Album (2015 Paisley Park Remaster) and From The Vault & Unreleased, the Purple Rain Deluxe - Expanded Edition presents a third disc of Single Edits & B-Sides, as well as the concert DVDof Prince and The Revolution Live! at the Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY March 30, 1985. With audio and video restored from the original production master tape, it offers an exclusive vignette into the passion and power of his legendary live performances during one of the artist's most celebrated eras.

 

The DNA of Purple Rain can be felt throughout pop culture at large. It is a timeless body of work with an immortal resonance exemplified by smashes such as "Let's Go Crazy," "When Doves Cry," "Darling Nikki," the title track "Purple Rain," and more. 1984's Purple Rain remains a high watermark for Prince, changing the worlds of film and music. In its initial run, the theatrical musical generated over $220 million worldwide at the box office against an estimated $7.2 million budget, while receiving the Academy Award® for "Best Original Song Score." Minted Diamond by the RIAA for sales exceeding 13 million, the record stands out as the sixth best-selling soundtrack album in history, moving more than 22 million copies. Hailed by Vanity Fair as "the best soundtrack of all time," Time Magazine placed it as the 15^th greatest album ever. Posthumously, it was honored as "Favorite Soundtrack" at the 2016 American Music Awards. The album won two 1985 GRAMMY Awards® in the categories of "Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" and "Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special." Posthumously, it was honored as "Favorite Soundtrack" at the 2016 American Music Awards. It was also recently nominated for a 2017 Billboard Music Award in the Top Category of "Top Soundtrack/Cast Album." The ultimate vision of Prince'sPurple Rain is here.

 

Below is the complete tracklist for both editions

 

PURPLE RAIN DELUXE

 

Disc One: Original Album (2015 Paisley Park Remaster)

1. Let's Go Crazy
2. Take Me With U
3. The Beautiful Ones
4. Computer Blue
5. Darling Nikki
6. When Doves Cry
7. I Would Die 4 U
8. Baby I'm A Star
9. Purple Rain

 

Disc Two: From The Vault & Previously Unreleased

1. The Dance Electric
2. Love and Sex
3. Computer Blue ("Hallway Speech" version)
4. Electric Intercourse (studio)
5. Our Destiny / Roadhouse Garden
6. Possessed (1983 version)
7. Wonderful Ass
8. Velvet Kitty Cat
9. Katrina's Paper Dolls
10. We Can Fuck
11. Father's Song

PURPLE RAIN DELUXE - EXPANDED EDITION

 

Includes Disc One and Disc Two as Listed Above

 

Disc Three: Single Edits & B-Sides

1. When Doves Cry (edit)
2. 17 Days
3. Let's Go Crazy (edit)
4. Let's Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix)
5. Erotic City
6. Erotic City ("Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive") 
7. Purple Rain (edit)
8. God
9. God (Love Theme From Purple Rain)
10. Another Lonely Christmas
11. Another Lonely Christmas (extended version)
12. I Would Die 4 U (edit)
13. I Would Die 4 U (extended version)
14. Baby I'm A Star (edit
15. Take Me With U (edit)

DVD: Prince And The Revolution, Live at the Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, March 30, 1985

1. Let's Go Crazy
2. Delirious
3. 1999
4. Little Red Corvette
5. Take Me With U
6. Do Me, Baby
7. Irresistible Bitch
8. Possessed
9. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
10. Let's Pretend We're Married
11. International Lover
12. God
13. Computer Blue
14. Darling Nikki 
15. The Beautiful Ones
16. When Doves Cry
17. I Would Die 4 U
18. Baby I'm A Star
19. Purple Rain

ABOUT PRINCE:

Prince endures as one of the most important, influential, and impactful artists in history. Selling 100 million records worldwide, he remains one of the best-selling artists of all time.

 

A 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, he garnered a 1985 Academy Award® in the category of "Best Original Song Score" for the film Purple Rain, a total of seven GRAMMYAwards®, a 2006 Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song" in Happy Feet, and an American Music Award, among countless other accolades. He holds #27 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists. 1984's Purple Rain remains a high watermark for Prince, changing the worlds of film and music. Minted Diamond by the RIAA for sales exceeding 13 million, the record stands out as the sixth best-selling soundtrack album in history, moving more than 22 million copies.

 

Known for his marathon shows, he delivered countless historic performances such as theSuper Bowl XLI Halftime Show. Enchanting the modern era, he headlined festivals such as Coachella and Montreux Jazz Festival in addition to selling out arenas and stadiums everywhere. Along the way, he collaborated with everyone from Michael Jackson, James Brown, Beyoncé and Amy Winehouse to Tom Petty, Madonna, and Mary J. Blige. In 2016, Prince passed, but his spirit continued to shine in the hearts and minds of fans worldwide. President Barack Obama lauded his legacy as his music blared from every corner of the globe. Ushering his talent to the forefront of the digital age for a new generation, Warner Bros. Records along with NPG Records re-introduced some of his legendary catalog to streaming platforms in early 2017.

Jackie Greene announces his forthcoming EP 'The Modern Lives - Vol 1'

It's definitely a great day when news arrives that Jackie Greene has plans to release new music. I saw Greene at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano last month (you can see my review of that concert here) and he continues to amaze me every time I catch him live or listen to any of his amazing songs...

JACKIE GREENE ANNOUNCES HIS FORTHCOMING EP 'THE MODERN LIVES - VOL 1'

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 13 VIA BLUE ROSE MUSIC/THE END RECORDS

Blue Rose Music is pleased to announce Jackie Greene’s upcoming EP The Modern Lives - Vol 1, comprised of six songs showcasing his “natural and intuitive connection with… just about any musical instrument” (San Francisco Chronicle), self-recorded and produced by Jackie Greene in Brooklyn, New York. The EP is available on October 13, 2017 via Blue Rose Music/The End Records on digital, CD and LP formats. 

Jackie Greene performing at the
Coach House on June 14, 2017.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Hailed as "the Prince of Americana" by The New York Times, Greene has always had a knack for capturing the human experience in all its messy, emotional complexity. On his new EP, he draws inspiration from some of the great social paradoxes of our 21st century world: that the technology designed to simplify our lives can actually complicate them in ways we'd never imagined, that the most crowded cities can actually be the loneliest places to live, that the constructs meant to connect us to each other can actually leave us feeling more isolated than ever.

Jackie Greene’s The Modern Lives - Vol 1 EP marks his first release with the multimedia company and record label Blue Rose Music, founded by Joe Poletto, which will be distributed and promoted by The End Records. The End Records’ CEO Andreas Katsambas explains, “We are pleased to provide our full services to Blue Rose Music, a new entity that inspires with its support to the music scene and charity

initiatives. Jackie Greene is the perfect artist to initiate this, as his new songs are standouts!"

Says Joe Poletto, “The world is filled with talent and there are plenty of stories to be told. For us, choosing the artists and the projects we support is all about the people. Our philosophy is simple – we work with people we admire. Artists with deep passion and creative talent, who genuinely play well with others, thrive in a collaborative environment. Jackie Greene is undoubtedly who and what we stand for - a true musician’s musician, whose relentless touring and recording schedule fuels us to work just as hard.” 

"It's essentially a venture that's going to allow me to release music in the way I've always wanted to," says Greene. "I've realized over the years that the homebrew aspect of what I do is very important to my aesthetic, and part of that is being able to do whatever you want, whenever you want. Joe and his team at Blue Rose get that," he continues. "I have complete and total freedom artistically and musically now, which means I don't have to play by the old rules anymore. That's really exciting to me."

About Blue Rose Music: 

Blue Rose Music is an artist collective that assists in the business and creative development of select musicians and projects. With extensive marketing and technology resources, Blue Rose enables artists to bridge their traditional audience-building avenues with today’s web, social and digital sharing capabilities. A portion of all revenue is donated to The Blue Rose Foundation, which provides pre-school scholarships to financially disadvantaged children.

About Jackie Greene:

Since the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album Gone Wanderin’, Jackie has built an endearing audience through a relentless touring schedule with the likes of BB King, Mark Knopfler, Susan Tedeschi, and Taj Mahal. In just the last four years, he has played lead guitar with The Black Crowes on their Layin’ Down With #13 World Tour,recorded and toured with Trigger Hippy - his supergroup with Joan Osborne -and performed over 250 shows of his own, all while continuing to record and release his solo work.. Jackie is a frequent member of Phil Lesh & Friends, and sits in with countless other artists like Tedeschi Trucks Band, Govt Mule, Mississippi All-Stars, Amy Helm, Steve Earle, and Bob Weir.

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'American Valhalla' to screen in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 9

If anyone is in Southern California this weekend, you might want to check out the special event and official premiere of "American Valhalla" featuring Iggy Pop and Joshua Homme. Details follow...

MORE2SCREEN AND EAGLE ROCK FILMS PRESENT LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF

AMERICAN VALHALLA

FEATURING IGGY POP AND JOSHUA HOMME

~LAEMMLE THEATRES / AHRYA FINE ARTS~

~SUNDAY, JULY 9 AT 7:00PM~

American Valhalla -- featuring Iggy Pop and Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Joshua Homme -- will premiere at Laemmle Theatres / Ahrya Fine Arts in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 9 (7 PM). The 81-minute film screening will be followed by a Q&A with co-directors Homme and Andreas Neumann.

American Valhalla (which will be released theatrically in the US on July 11 via More2Screen / Eagle Rock Films) follows these two rock statesmen from the creation of Iggy’s latest studio album Post Pop Depression through the subsequent critically-acclaimed tour. Iggy and Homme invite the viewer into personal and creative moments, as they wrote and recorded in the Mojave desert, rehearsed, and presented these fiery new songs on stages around the world joined by Matt Helders (drummer, Arctic Monkeys) and Dean Fertita (bassist, Queens Of The Stone Age), with Troy Van Leeuwan (guitarist, Queens Of The Stone Age), and bassist/guitarist Matt Sweeney completing the live line-up.

This week, Billboard.com spoke with Homme and Neumann about the film, as well as premiered a clip in which Iggy describes the artistic style of himself and his bandmates, and the inspiration behind the new songs: http://bit.ly/2sB0Dnw

The film was recently premiered at the Sheffield Doc/Fest to rave reviews:

“…Everything underlines that this was a special, unique moment in the lives of all those who participated…Iggy Pop is so engaging. Telling tales of old friend David Bowie or diving headlong into an adoring crowd, he is like a grizzled, old prizefighter determined to prove that he still has a few rounds left in him and American Valhalla pays due homage to his seemingly indestructible spirit.”

-Allan Hunter, Screen Daily

Ahrya Fine Arts Theater is located at 8556 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, 90211. For tickets, please visit: https://www.laemmle.com/films/42538

For more information regarding American Valhalla, please visit:

http://found.ee/AmericanValhallaMovie https://www.facebook.com/AmericanValhallaMovie/

#AmericanValhalla

The Zombies focus of new display at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Any excuse to celebrate The Zombies is a good one! I'm thrilled to see The Zombies getting some well-deserved recognition by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame...

CLEVELAND – The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will spotlight the influential career and music of iconic British Invasion group the Zombies in a new display.

Surviving members of the original lineup, Hugh Grundy, Chris White, Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent, will dedicate the display on Wednesday, July 12 at 5 p.m.

Among the items included in the display are:

• Items from the group’s first major hit “She’s Not There,” including Rod Argent’s Hohner electric pianet and sheet music
• Chris White’s bass guitar
• Paul Atkinson’s acoustic guitar used on the recording of “Tell Her No”
• Hugh Grundy’s Ludwig snare drum used on all of the Zombies’ 1960s recordings
• The artwork for the band’s critically acclaimed Odessey and Oracle album by Terry Quirk
• And more

Bassist-singer Chris White, left, and Colin Blunstone
performing in October 2015. Photo: Robert Kinsler

In this exhibit, fans and visitors will discover how the band handled their success and enthusiastic fans, how ZZ Top’s Frank Beard and Dusty Hill capitalized on the Zombies’ popularity, and their continued influence on popular music with artists like Dave Grohl, Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, the Shins and more.

Think you know your British rock and roll history? Stop by our Rock Hall trivia show and prove it!  The Zombies will serve as special guest participants of this trivia show, which will include behind-the-scenes highlights of the new exhibit.  This show runs from 6pm-6:15pm and is open to the public with paid admission and free to Rock Hall members.  Prizes will be awarded to winners.

The Zombies just completed a 26-date North American tour celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the recording of their 1968 masterpiece Odessey and Oracle, and the release of the coffee table book The Odessey: The Zombies in Words and Images.

Drummer Hugh Grundy in 2015.

About the Zombies:

One of the consummate joys of the first wave of the British Invasion was the startling variety of sounds and styles that emerged month after month in that heady halcyon era.

At one end of the scale were the raw, blues-drenched disciples of American blues and R&B (Rolling Stones, Animals, Yardbirds), and at the other end were the more studied, sophisticated, intricately arranged atmospherics of the Zombies. There was no other band whose sound filled space as gorgeously and completely as the Zombies: the jazz-inflected electric piano of Rod Argent, the choirboy vocals of him and his St. Albans schoolmates, bassist Chris White and lead singer Colin Blunstone. Other schoolmates, Paul Atkinson on guitar and vocals, and drummer Hugh Grundy rounded out the classic original lineup, which endeared itself overnight to the most loyal and dedicated army of fans to which any rock band can lay claim.

Rod Argent performing at the Saban Theatre in
Beverly Hills, CA in October 2015. 

At the end of the day, it always comes back home to the triad of career defining hits by the Zombies that beg the question: Where were you the first time you heard “She’s Not There” or “Tell Her No” or “Time Of the Season?” Their second and final album Odessey And Oracle has earned its reputation (and its spot inside the Top 100 on Rolling Stone’s list of the "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time") alongside such masterworks as the Beatles’ White Album and the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. Rod Argent’s eponymous band gave majesty and definition to the ’70s, but the Zombies, which he and Colin Blunstone have been helming on records and tours for the past decade, are truly a rock band for all seasons.

More about the Zombies at thezombiesmusic.com.

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through exhibits, innovative programs and concerts. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or Facebook, Twitter and Instagram(@rockhall). Long Live Rock!

New Music: Beau Brummels, Sonny Landreth, Bryan Adams, Willie Nile, honeychain

Discovering new artists or rediscovering old favorites is easy thanks to a number of recent releases available now.

Artist: The Beau Brummels
Title: The Very Best of the Beau Brummels (Varèse Sarabande)
You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles' early recordings, the Monkees' "Headquarters"
Tell me more: The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Who were not the only great rock artists to emerge in the early 1960s. The Kinks, The Zombies, the Byrds and other groundbreaking artists were  among the young acts that helped pave the way for rock's greatest-ever decade. Another essential early '60s-spawned artist worth discovering is San Francisco's Beau Brummels, the focus of the newly-issued collection The Very Best of the Beau Brummels. Kicking off with the band's successful 1965 hit "Laugh, Laugh," the 16-track set includes a slew of ambitious and memorable cuts including "Just a Little," a buoyant cover of John Sebastian's "Good Time Music," a fervent take on Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings" and the original psychedelic-tinged folk rocker "Lower Level." Information: VareseSarabande.com.

Artist: Sonny Landreth
Title: Recorded Live in Lafayette (Provogue)
You might like if you enjoy: Derek Trucks Band, Sonny Landreth
Tell me more: Born in Mississippi and a long-time resident of Louisiana, Sonny Landreth celebrates his Southern blues roots via an outstanding new collection aptly titled Recorded Live in Lafayette. Landreth is one the world's great guitarists, and is well known for his slide work that is enhanced by his distinctive picking style. It is a bona fide bonus that Landreth's baritone voice is more than up to the task of delivering the memorable songs that span the release. The audio CD version of Recorded Live in Lafayette features a full-length acoustic-styled set on the first disc, and a high-octane selection of electric material on the second disc. The decidedly Delta-falvored Key to the Highway," the zydeco romp "Creole Angel," infectious "Back to Bayou Teche," and dazzling instrumentals "The Milky Way Home" and "Brave New Girl" are among the many great cuts on the collection. "Recorded Live in Lafayette" is also available on vinyl. Information: SonnyLandreth.com.

Artist: Bryan Adams
Title: Wembley Live 1996 (Eagle Rock)
You might like if you enjoy: Bryan Adams
Tell me more: Bryan Adams' concert at Wembley Stadium broadcast live around the globe and recorded on July 27, 1996, came to DVD in late 2016. Now the concert release has come to audio CD for those who want this great companion release. Performing before a sold-out crowd of 70,000 or so, Adams and his band sailed through two dozen tracks covering the artist's best-known '80s and '90s material in energetic fashion. The mix of guitar-anchored rockers ("Kids Wanna Rock," "Run To You"), melodic rock tunes ("This Time," "Cuts Like a Knife") and power ballads ("(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," "Heaven") will please fans of the Canadian rocker. Melissa Etheridge joins Adams for a particularly powerful "It's Only Love." Information: eagle-rock.com.

Artist: Willie Nile
Title: Positively Bob (River House Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Bob Dylan, Willie Nile, Little Steven
Tell me more: Top-tier songwriters such as George Harrison, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp and Neil Young have all found a myriad of great reasons to perform songs penned by Bob Dylan at live performances or via recorded interpretations. Now acclaimed singer-songwriter Willie Nile has released the wonderful Positively Bob, a full-length tribute to Dylan. These are versions that fully celebrate and embrace the lyrical and musical muscle of the originals while providing the gifted Nile to rework the masterworks with his own artistic touch. "The Times They Are A-Changin'" and "Blowin' In The Wind" have been artfully transported into anthemic rockers. "I Want You" is an absolutely beautiful love song, and is delivered with a particularly affecting touch. "You Ain't Going' Nowhere" soars as if it was recorded in a festive Irish pub, complete with an a cappella vocal break. Information: willienile.com.

Artist: honeychain
Title: Crushed (honeychain)
You might like if you enjoy: The Muffs, the Ramones
Tell me more: Mixing up straight-forward melodic power pop with pop punk, the songs that fill honeychain's new album Crushed are penned by lead singer-guitarist Hillary Burton and revisit some of the themes that made pioneering discs from female rockers ranging from the Go-Go's and Bangles to The Muffs so refreshing and inspired. Produced by legendary Muffs singer-songwriter Kim Shattuck, "Crushed" speeds along thanks to strong songs performed with aplomb by Burton, band mates Andre Tusques (guitar, backing vocals) and Loye Aubrey Jr. (drums), as well as Emma Jenson (bass) and Shattuck (adding vocals and some lead guitar). Standouts include the rocking opener "Bombs Away," the exhilarating "Some Other Girl," the lovely "When I Stumble" and punk-styled "Messy Love." The album's final entry, the confessional "Welcome To My Life," is a welcome detour with its acoustic guitar-anchored approach. Information: honeychainMusic.com.

Robert Kinsler

Music Worth Buying episode: R. Stevie Moore & Jason Falkner, The Mavericks

On the latest episode of MUSIC WORTH BUYING, Robert Kinsler celebrates the fantastic collaboration between R. Stevie Moore and Jason Falkner Make It Be while TJR can't get enough of the latest album from The Mavericks, the spirited Brand New Day: