Thursday, August 07, 2014

Eric Clapton's 'Planes, Trains And Eric' On DVD, Blu-ray, And Digital Formats 11/4/14

One of rock's most enduring and influential guitarists will be the focus on an upcoming DVD/Blu-ray release courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment. Here is the media release...


EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY RELEASES
ERIC CLAPTON
PLANES, TRAINS AND ERIC
~DVD,  BLU-RAY, AND DIGITAL FORMATS OUT NOVEMBER 4, 2014~


On November 4, 2014, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Planes, Trains and Eric by Eric Clapton on DVD and Blu-ray [Pre-book Order Date October 10, MSRP $19.98 Blu-ray, $14.98 DVD].  This is an intimate film documenting life on the road during part of his 2014 tour intercut with superb full-length performances.  The film features many classic tracks including: “Layla,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “Cocaine,” “Tears In Heaven,” “I Shot The Sherriff,” “Crossroads” and more.
Planes, Trains and Eric follows Eric Clapton and his band on the Far and Middle Eastern leg of his 2014 World Tour. The film features 13 full-length performances blended with interviews with Eric Clapton and the band members, rehearsal and soundcheck footage, travel by trains and planes, presentations and “fly on the wall” filming of all the many aspects of being on the road with Eric Clapton.
Eric Clapton is one of the most revered and influential guitarists of all time. From his early days with the Yardbirds, through John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek And The Dominos and on to his solo career he has had consistent critical and commercial success.
The line up of the band featured on the film is Eric Clapton (guitar & vocals); Steve Gadd (drums); Paul Carrack (Hammond & vocals); Nathan East (bass & vocals); Chris Stainton (keyboards); Michelle John (backing vocals); Shar White (backing vocals).
Planes, Trains and Eric offers an unrivalled peek into the world of one of today’s greatest performers; and of course plenty of fantastic music.
Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world.  Eagleworks directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:
TRACK LISTING:
1) Tell The Truth  
2) Pretending  
3) Crossroads  
4) Driftin’  
5) I Shot The Sherriff  
6) Little Queen Of Spades  
7) Layla  
8) Wonderful Tonight  
9) Key To The Highway  
10) Before You Accuse Me  
11) Tears In Heaven  
12) Cocaine  
13) Hoochie Coochie Man  
14) High Time (Credits – Audio Only)

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Sights and Sounds: Amos Lee, Jack's 9th Show, Gardens & Villa, Status Quo

Whew! Lots of news and notes as it relates to upcoming releases and concert events. Read away!

Firstly, I have news on several upcoming SoCal concert events.


Amos Lee performs in Costa Mesa tonight.
Photo: Harper Lee
Have plans tonight? If you live in Southern California and are free, I highly recommend catching singer-songwriter Amos Lee when he headlines at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, at 8 p.m. Lee's current Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song tour finds the talented artist who blends pop, soul and folk performing songs from his 5th album (Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song), as well as well known earlier material including "Windows Are Rolled Down," "Bottom of the Barrel" and "Night Train." Amy Helm & the Handsome Strangers open. Information: SCFTA.org

93.1 Jack FM has announced the lineup for Jack's 9th Show. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Collective Soul, Billy Squier, Violent Femmes, Bow Wow Wow and Naked Eyes will perform at The Theatre at Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Tickets ($47.30 - $136) for the event will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8 and are available through Livenation.com, Ticketmaster.com, at Ticketmaster retail outlets and via Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone: 800-745-3000. Tickets will be available to purchase at the Honda Center Box Office beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9.

The OC Parks Summer Concert Series continues with a free (that's right, free) show from Gardens & Villa on Thursday, Aug. 7 (that's tomorrow). Orange County's own Stacy Clark opens at the outdoor event, which will be held at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley from 6-8 p.m. Read more on the exciting concert series here.

And now on to exciting news as it relates to classic rock act Status Quo...



STATUS QUO
The Frantic Four's Final Fling – Live At The Dublin 02 Arena
Out September 30 on earMUSIC / Eagle Rock Entertainment


When the last notes rang out in the Dublin o2 on Saturday, April 12, 2014, the 9000 fans packing the venue knew that they were witnessing the end of something special.  The reunion that nobody thought would ever be possible had happened, but now the itch was scratched and that particular book was closed. 
On September 30, 2014, Status Quo will commemorate one very special night with the North American release of The Frantic Four’s Final Fling – Live At The Dublin 02 Arena on 2CD, double vinyl, and digital audio through earMUSIC / Edel / Eagle Rock Entertainment.
When the original line-up of Status Quo reunited for a 9-date UK tour in March 2013 the outpouring of approval and raw emotion from the fans was incredible. Public demand made the final tour of 2014 mandatory and it was just as emotional. RossiParfittLancaster and Coghlan received a rapturous response; the band clicked straight back into their groove, the chemistry obvious, the music stunning and the volume almost overpowering.  It all led to Dublin; the final show of the final tour. Ever.
The Frantic Four tours were highlights in a career that has seen Quo achieve more than anyone dreamed possible.  The Times (UK) said, “It sounded fantastic.  And they, like us, were clearly getting a tremendous kick out of revisiting these long-neglected songs.”  Classic Rock said, quite simply, “F*ck me, dreams can come true!” Dublin was a genuine milestone on the incredible road that Quo have traveled, and it’s captured in all its glory here: The Frantic Four´s Final Fling – Live At The Dublin 02 Arena.
Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

Follow earMusic at:

TRACK LISTING:
1.) Junior’s Wailing
2.) Backwater
3.) Just Take Me
4.) Is There A Better Way
5.) Blue Eyed Lady
6.) In My Chair
7.) Little Lady
8.) Most Of The Time
9.) Rain
10.) (April) Spring, Summer and Wednesdays
11.) Railroad
12.) Oh Baby
13.) Forty-Five Hundred Times
14.) Gotta Go Home
15.) Big Fat Mama
16.) Down Down
17.) Roadhouse Blues
18.) Caroline
19.) Bye Bye Johnny

Tuesday, August 05, 2014

The Who 'Who Hits 50' - 50th Anniversary Celebrations

With legendary British bands The Beatles, The Zombies and The Rolling Stones having already celebrated their 50th anniversaries, its The Who's turn. Here is an exciting that landed in my inbox today...

2014 marks the 50th anniversary of The Who.
There is no more significant a milestone in Rock Music than the 50th Anniversary. Alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, THE WHO complete the holy trinity of British Rock bands that have the honor of celebrating that landmark.

WHO HITS 50 will be celebrated with a year-long series of releases, promotions and events designed to capture the imagination of existing fans and the younger generation of fans that are only coming to realize the enormity of THE WHO’s influence not only musically, but through music, art, film and fashion.

All launched in June with the announcement of a string of UK Arena shows and a Greatest Hits collection to be released on October 28, 2014.

In anticipation of the celebrations, THE WHO are reaching out to fans and collectors around the world, looking for rare and lost recordings to complete a thorough trawl of their archives.

The band is looking for rare radio and TV performances, home movies from gigs, extraordinary bootleg material, demos, unusual photos and memorabilia for their 50th anniversary releases. If you think it’s rare, we’d like to see it!

In 2002 the legendary film The High Numbers at the Railway Hotel from 1964 was found in a loft in the Netherlands. This priceless snapshot of the band in their formative years shows that there is always undiscovered material somewhere.

Any item that is used will be fully credited on any release and the person with the most outstanding find will receive 2 VIP tickets for a show on the next Who tour.

The contact for any fan wanting to get in touch is thewho@umusic.com

Saguaro Road Records to Release "The Knox Phillips Sessions: The Unreleased Recordings" of Jerry Lee Lewis

A whole Lotta Shakin' going on indeed. New music (although recorded at the end of the 1970s) is coming from Jerry Lee Lewis. Here is the official release...

Saguaro Road Records to Release The Knox Phillips Sessions: The Unreleased Recordingsof Jerry Lee Lewis
* * * * *
Album Includes 10 Never-Before-Heard Tracks Recorded with Knox Phillips
* * * * *

CD and 180 Gram Vinyl Available September 23
Los Angeles, CA – August 5, 2014 - Nearly forty years after being recorded, Saguaro Road Records and Knox Phillips are set to release The Knox Phillips Sessions: The Unreleased Recordings of Jerry Lee Lewis on September 23rd on both CD and 180 gram vinyl formats. Recorded in the late ‘70s, at Phillips Recording in Memphis by Knox Phillips (son of esteemed producer and founder of Sun Records/Studios Sam Phillips), The Knox Phillips Sessions will be available on all digital and physical platforms including an 11-track (with a bonus song) vinyl record on September 23rd

At the end of the ‘70s, Jerry Lee Lewis left Mercury Records after a successful fifteen years that saw his career spectacularly reborn in country music. Even after amassing 35 country hits there, country music was just one part of Jerry Lee Lewis' musical soul. Now and then, Mercury had allowed him to deviate from the genre, but never far... and never for long. And, it was time for a musical walkabout.

Like his father, Knox Phillips intuitively understood how to produce Jerry Lee Lewis, allowing him free rein to plunder his subconscious for half-forgotten songs, and reimagine them in his imitable style -- precisely what Jerry Lee had done with "Whole Lotta Shakin" twenty years earlier. Always after midnight, Knox would get a call from Jerry Lee, asking him - maybe telling him - to come open up the studio because he felt like recording. In those sessions, Jerry Lee crossed the breadth of American music from Stephen Foster to Jim Croce. After a nineteenth century gospel standard, "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior," Jerry Lee would drawl his way imperiously through pop classics like "Harbor Lights." To those, he added old country hits like "Room Full of Roses." Although he wrote none of the songs, he imprints himself forcefully upon them all, perhaps never more so than on the bitterly regretful "That Kind of Fool."

In all, the sessions capture 10 songs from one of the true giants of American music at his best – an enduring talent playing the music that he wanted to record and making each song into an expression of himself. While The Knox Phillips Sessions has collected dust for the better part of four decades, it’s now time for this brilliant collection to see the light of day. There have been plenty of Jerry Lee Lewis records, but none like this. The Knox Phillips Sessions will appeal to music fans who wish to hear songs from all across the breadth of American music transformed into a very personal artistic statement from a true interpretative genius.
For more information about Jerry Lee Lewis and The Knox Phillips Sessions, please visit http://www.saguaroroad.com/.

Official Track Listing:
1.     “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”
2.     “Ragged But Right”
3.     “Room Full of Roses”
4.     “Johnny B. Goode / Carol”
5.     “That Kind of Fool”
6.     “Harbor Lights”
7.     “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior”
8.     “Music! Music! Music! / Canadian Sunset”
9.     “Lovin’ Cajun Style”
10.  “Beautiful Dreamer”

Monday, August 04, 2014

Inbox Update: Sharon Corr set to tour in September; Empty Hearts debut lands tomorrow

Here are a couple of timely media releases of interest to fans of Sharon Corr who are based in the UK and Ireland, as well as power-pop fans everywhere...
  
SHARON CORR US MEDIA; PREPS UPCOMING UK/IRELAND TOUR DATES;
THE SAME SUN CD SET FOR SEPTEMBER UK/IRELAND RELEASE;
THE BETTER SHOW AND ART OF THE SONG AIR
FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST;  
ICONIC IRISH SINGER/SONGWRITER’S MITCHELL FROOM-PRODUCED COLLECTION FEATURES
INTERNATIONAL SMASH, “TAKE A MINUTE.”
ALONGSIDE CURRENT SINGLE/VIDEO, “WE COULD BE LOVERS”    
In advance of a September UK/Ireland release of her solo CD, The Same Sun Sharon Corr prepares for her much-anticipated UK/Ireland tour. Starting in Inverness on September 14, the tour will visit Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle, Dublin, Manchester, Oxford and Birmingham before concluding in London on September 25. The Grammy nominee/Brit Award winning, singer-songwriter/violinist and member of legendary Irish group The Corrs, Sharon Corr will perform songs from her second solo album The Same Sun as well as a selection from her popular back catalogue, as she did at the launch of her US tour earlier this year.  
"I'm really excited to be touring again in the UK and Ireland. Music is magic, so come breathe it in!” Corr comments.  
A former judge on The Voice of Ireland, she continues non-stop UK /Irish and international promotion, while scheduled tv and radio appearances in the US include performances on the popular, nationally syndicated tv show, The Better Show, August 6th, and the nationally syndicated radio showArt of the Song, which begins airing on public radio stations nationally the week beginning August 4thAccording to Art of the Song host and Standing “O” founder, John Dillon, “It was indeed a pleasure speaking with Sharon Corr. Not only is her musicianship extraordinary, she truly embodies the creative values we seek to illustrate on the show.”  Art of the Song is a one hour public radio program heard on over 150 stations across North America. Through discussions with singer-songwriters and artists, the show aims to inspire listeners to explore their own creativity. The intimate conversation and exclusively recorded music with Sharon Corr may also be heard at Art of the Song’s sister website, www.StandingOProject.com.* Corr’s media rollout continues with a feature interview that is also scheduled to run on the syndicated radio show, 60 Second CD later this week.  At the end of June, Corr performed on the international tv show and Arise 360.  
In addition, throughout these last several weeks, Corr has been seen on such high profile UK media outlets as Weekend WoganSimon Mayo, Lorraine Live, profiled in Female First and The Herald Drive, among other outlets.  In a recent review of Take A Minute,one writer observed vocal comparisons to Karen Carpenter noting, …if someone told you this was Karen Carpenter, you’d believe them,” adding, “a lot of people are going to like her sound…”  
A deeply personal work, “THE SAME SUN” draws further inspiration from Corr’s own extraordinary life experiences in recent years, including her 2012 journey to Tanzania as ambassador for Oxfam Ireland’s “Ending Poverty Starts With Women” campaign. Sharon Corr is of course known around the globe as a member of legendary Irish group, The Corrs whose success included headlining sold our world tours and worldwide album sales in excess of 45 million over their incredible 15 year career.
*ABOUT THE STANDING O PROJECT
The Standing “O” Project is a new online community of musicians and music lovers that provides a wealth of music, video and interview content to fans.    
For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visit www.sharoncorr.com,www.facebook.com/SharonCorrOfficialtwitter.com/sharon_corr,



THE EMPTY HEARTS FEATURING 

ELLIOT EASTON (THE CARS), 

CLEM BURKE (BLONDIE), 
WALLY PALMAR (THE ROMANTICS) & 
ANDY BABIUK (THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS) DEBUT ALBUM OUT TOMORROW!


"It's solid and sturdy rock and roll that pays tribute to its influences without sounding trite. A plethora of experience, influence and respect combine to be translated through the expression of original, no frills, good-time tunes." 

Something Else! 


August 4, 2014 Santa Monica, CA-- The Empty Hearts, a new band featuring members of The Cars, Blondie, The Romantics and The Chesterfield Kings, signed to 429 Records which will release their eponymous debut album tomorrow in the U.S. and Canada (and in Australia, Europe and Japan, release dates below). The band, consisting of four iconic players and musical peers, features Elliot Easton on lead guitar, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Clem Burke on drums, Wally Palmar on vocals, harmonica and guitar and Andy Babiuk on bass. Co-produced by the band and Ed StasiumThe Empty Hearts is a raucous collection of tunes with each player's rock 'n' roll stripes on display - a bracing sound shaped by influences which span decades and include 50s American roots rock 'n' roll, 60s British invasion and 70s garage-punk. Described by Music Connection as "a well-crafted, highly enjoyable bundle of snap, crackle and pop," the album was recorded at Fab Gear Studios in Rochester, NY and also includes the Faces' Hall of Fame keyboardist Ian McLagan on Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano. The Empty Heartswill be released tomorrow in the U.S. and Canada on 429 Records. 429 Records also released the album in Australia (8/1) and Europe (8/4). The album will be released in Japan on 8/6.

The Empty Hearts (a name coined by Little Steven from his secret list of unused band names), is a band who sound like musical cohorts-all came of age in the 70's and 80's music scenes and play by a DIY punk rock code of ethics. A self-proclaimed band of "rock and roll lifers", the chemistry clicked immediately--they are all connected having come together as a band of friends.


To order The Empty Hearts visit:

429 Records is a unit of The Savoy Label Group (SLG). SLG is the North American based division of Nippon Columbia the oldest music company in Japan. The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. The Savoy Label Group is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

Gary Moore 'Live At Bush Hall 2007' CD coming September 23, 2014

Always nice to hear when we get new recordings from the the late guitar great Gary Moore, who sadly died at age of 58 in February 2011. Here is the release that landed in my inbox earlier today...

Eagle Records set to release 'Gary Moore - Live at Bush Hall 2007' on CD, digital audio on September 23, 2014

Eagle Records is delighted to announce the release of the Live At Bush Hall 2007 album from the late great Gary Moore on September 23, 2014.  This is the first ever release of this incredible show which contains several tracks that are not available in live versions anywhere else. 
 
Gary Moore was one of the finest and most respected guitarists of his generation, with a rich musical career both in bands and as a solo artist. He had a vibrant love affair with rock and the blues, which is proudly and loudly heard on Live At Bush Hall 2007.
 
This show, recorded at London’s Bush Hall on May 17, 2007, was originally broadcast by Planet Rock radio. This is the first time the complete show has been made available outside of this original broadcast. The concert features a number of tracks from Moore's then newly released Close As You Get album (Eagle Rock Entertainment), such as “Eyesight To The Blind,” and “I Had A Dream” many of which he rarely played live after this, alongside classics from his extensive back catalogue, such as “Don’t Believe A Word,” “Walking By Myself,” “Still Got The Blues,” and many more.
 
Gary Moore was an unmatched live performer, a virtuoso who also made a visceral connection with any audience, and Live At Bush Hall 2007 is a perfect representation of his masterwork onstage.
 
Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.
 

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:
 
 
TRACK LISTING
 
1) If The Devil Made Whiskey  
2) Thirty Days  
3) Trouble At Home  
4) Hard Times  
5) Eyesight To The Blind  
6) I Had A Dream  
7) Too Tired  
8) Gary’s Blues 1  
9) Don’t Believe A Word  
10) Still Got The Blues  
11) Walking By Myself  
12) The Blues Is Alright  
13) Sundown

Friday, August 01, 2014

Robin Gibb's final recordings to be featured on 'St. Catherine's Drive'

Happy Friday everybody! Here is a notable release on Robin Gibb's posthumous album set for release this fall...

Unreleased Robin Gibb album 50 St. Catherine's Drive and final recordings confirmed for release on September 30

   
 '50 St. Catherine's Drive' features:
o   “Sydney,” the last song written and sung by Robin Gibb.
o   “I Am The World,” a new version of the 1966 Bee Gees classic.
o   The new lead track “Days Of Wine And Roses.”
o   All tracks written or co-written by Robin Gibb.
o   Song-writing contributions from son RJ Gibb.
o   Personal track by track notes by Dwina Gibb.
 
On September 30, Reprise/Warner/Rhino will release 50 ST. CATHERINE’S DRIVE, the last solo album by the legendary songwriter, performer and founding Bee GeeRobin Gibb, who died in May 2012. The album was compiled by his wife Dwina Gibb and son RJ Gibb, and includes most of the tracks originally recorded for the album, plus the last tracks written and recorded by Robin Gibb. Rollingstone.com premiered the new version of the Bee Gees classic “I Am The World” - http://rol.st/ULtHWy.
 
Named 50 ST. CATHERINE’S DRIVE – the address of the house where Robin was born in Douglas on the Isle of Man – the 17-track album is a reflective, sometimes autobiographical collection of songs mainly recorded between 2006 and 2008, but never released. With the addition of some of the final recordings by Robin Gibb, the album is a unique insight into the genius songwriting talent of this much-loved and greatly missed globally renowned musician. The album also includes three tracks co-written with his son RJ Gibb, and was produced by Peter-John Vettese.
 
The final track on the album, “Sydney,” is also the very last track recorded by Robin. As a demo recording, it is not as produced as the other tracks on the album, and Robin’s wife, Dwina Gibb, explains the inclusion of the track:
 
“Robin composed this late at night, end of July 2011, at our home, The Prebendal. He used the bedroom keyboards and then GarageBand on an iPad. He wished to finish this song in a studio with Barry, for a new album he hoped they would record together, but his health prevented this. He missed his twin brother Maurice, who had passed away; but when he closed his eyes, the three young brothers were back in Sydney, Australia, happy together with their dreams and hopes for the future. Their future creations of course affected the world. This fragment of song is poignant, wistful, beautiful and unfinished. It belongs on this album as one of his last works. He cried when he wrote it, and I wept when I heard it.”

 
Full Tracklisting:
1.     Days Of Wine & Roses
2.     Instant Love
3.     Alan Freeman Days
4.     Wherever You Go
5.     I Am The World (New Version)
6.     Mother
7.     Anniversary
8.     Sorry
9.     Cherish
10.   Don’t Cry Alone
11.   Avalanche
12.   One Way Love
13.   Broken Wings
14.   Sanctuary
15.   Solid
16.   All We Have Is Now
17.   Sydney