More live dates, book readings from Ben Watt

photo by Rob Blackham

Following the success of his acclaimed new solo album Hendra, Ben Watt has announced more North American dates this July.

These come in addition to the previously scheduled performances and readings in New York and Los Angeles this June.

Watt will play solo on guitar and electric piano, accompanied by Bernard Butler (formerly of Suede). The audience can expect new songs and vintage gems from the two indie legends.

After 20 years as co-songwriter, occasional singer and primary instrumentalist in Everything But The Girl, and 10 as an international DJ and label owner with Buzzin’ Fly, Ben Watt returned to his singer-songwriter folk-rock roots in April this year with Hendra, his first since North Marine Drive 31 years ago.

On June 10 at PowerHouse Arena in Brooklyn and June 14 at Book Soup in Los Angeles, Ben Watt will participate in an audience Q&A and read from his much-anticipated second book Romany and Tom. The publication date is June 10.

US Tour Dates:
 
6/10/14: Brooklyn, NY – PowerHouse Arena – Reading + Q&A
6/11/14: New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
6/12/14: New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
6/13/14: Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
6/14/14: Los Angeles, CA – Book Soup – Reading + Q&A
7/15/14: Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel
7/16/14: Vienna, VA – Jammin Java
7/17/14: Toronto, ON – The Drake
7/18/14: Chicago, IL – Old Town School Of Music
7/19/14: Minneapolis, MN – Bryant Lake Bowl
7/21/14: Seattle, WA – Columbia City Theater
7/22/14: San Francisco, CA – The Chapel

Erasure has new album, tour on tap

Having interviewed both members over the years, I'm always interested in their new material. Read on for more info...

Erasure (Vince Clarke and Andy Bell) have announced details of a new album, The Violet Flame, out Sept. 23, with a worldwide tour this fall.

 

Recorded in New York and London and produced by Richard X, The Violet Flame follows 2013’s critically acclaimed Snow Globe, and is the band’s sixteenth studio album release. The first single from the 10-track album will be released in mid-July.

 

Before the world tour, Erasure will perform at CarFest in the UK on Aug. 1 (Cheshire) and Aug. 22 (Hampshire).

 

The Violet Flame Tour then begins in Miami in September (full details below). Tickets are on sale from May 30 (UK/Europe) and June 7 (US). Full details from: erasureinfo.com/concerts/

 

The Violet Flame will be available for pre-order at www.pledgemusic.com/erasure beginning 5am EST on May 28th. The album will be available alongside exclusive Erasure bundles including single, deluxe and box set formats as well as a VIP ticket bundle which will feature the album, premium ticket and meet and greet with the band.

 

ERASURE LIVE

1 August – CarFest Chesire - http://www.carfest.org/

22 August – CarFest Hampshire - http://www.carfest.org/

 

THE VIOLET FLAME TOUR

12 Sep - Miami, FL, Fillmore Miami Beach, USA

13 Sep - Orlando, FL, House of Blues, USA

14 Sep - St. Petersburg, FL, Mahaffey Theatre, USA

17 Sep - Atlanta, GA, Symphony Hall, USA

19 Sep - Washington, DC, 9:30 Club, USA

21 Sep - Reading, PA, Santander Performing Arts Center, USA

26 Sep - Atlantic City, NJ, Borgata - The Music Box, USA

27 Sep - Boston, MA, House of Blues, USA

28 Sep - Homestead, PA (Pittsburgh), Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead, USA

30 Sep - Toronto, ON, Danforth Music Hall, CANADA

1 Oct - Royal Oak, MI (Detroit), Royal Oak Music Theatre, USA

3 Oct - Chicago, IL, Chicago Theatre, USA

4 Oct - Chicago, IL, Chicago Theatre, USA

5 Oct - Milwaukee, WI, Pabst Theatre, USA

8 Oct - Nashville, TN, War Memorial Auditorium, USA

10 Oct - Houston, TX, Bayou Music Center, USA

11 Oct - Houston, TX, Bayou Music Center, USA

12 Oct - San Antonio, TX, Tobin Center for the Perf. Arts, USA

14 Oct - Dallas, TX. House of Blues, USA

15 Oct - Dallas, TX, House of Blues, USA

17 Oct - New Orleans, LA, House of Blues, USA

18 Oct - Austin, TX, ACL Live, USA

19 Oct - Austin, TX, ACL Live, USA

21 Oct - Phoenix, AZ, Comerica Theatre, USA

22 Oct - San Diego, CA, Humphrey's, USA

24 Oct - Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Palladium, USA

25 Oct - Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Palladium, USA

26 Oct - Ventura, CA, Ventura Theatre, USA

28 Oct - Denver, CO, Ogden Theatre, USA

29 Oct - Salt Lake City, UT         Capitol Theatre, USA

31 Oct - Las Vegas, NV, Palms Casino Resort, USA

1 Nov - Oakland, CA, The Fox, USA

8 Nov – Belfast, Ulster Hall, UK

9 Nov – Dublin, Olympia, IRELAND

12 Nov – Reading, Hexagon, UK

13 Nov – Southampton, Guildhall, UK

14 Nov – Reading, Hexagon, UK

15 Nov – Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall, UK

16 Nov – Guildford, G Live, UK

17 Nov – Bristol, Colston Hall, UK

19 Nov – Aberdeen, Music Hall, UK

20 Nov – Edinburgh, Corn Exchange, UK

21 Nov – Glasgow, O2 Academy, UK

23 Nov – Brighton, Dome, UK

24 Nov – Cardiff, St. David's Hall, UK

25 Nov – Preston, Guildhall, UK

28 Nov- Newcastle, O2 Academy, UK

29 Nov – Wolverhampton, Civic, UK

30 Nov – Manchester, Apollo, UK

4 Dec – Cologne, Palladium, GERMANY

5 Dec- Dresden, Schlachthof, GERMANY

7 Dec – Hamburg, CCH1, GERMANY

9 Dec – Berlin, Columbiahalle, GERMANY

10 Dec – Aarhus, Musikhus, DENMARK

11 Dec – Copenhagen, TAP 1, DENMARK

14 Dec – London, Forum, UK

30 Dec - New York, NY Terminal 5, USA

31 Dec - New York, NY Terminal 5, USA

Jónsi of Sigur Rós works on 'How To Train Your Dragon' soundtrack

Following the success of 2010's Oscar-nominated soundtrack for DreamWorks Animation's original "How To Train Your Dragon," Jónsi (frontman of the Icelandic atmospheric rock band, Sigur Rós) and composer John Powell are back, collaborating for the upcoming Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for How To Train Your Dragon 2.

It is set to release via Relativity Music Group on June 10 - three days before the film hits theaters nationwide. Jónsi has released his contribution to the soundtrack, "Where No One Goes." The soundtrack will be available via iTunes on June 10.

Critically acclaimed composer John Powell has contributed original compositions to over 50 film scores including "Happy Feet", "Shrek," "PS. I Love You", "X-Men: The Last Stand", "Rio", "Ice Age: The Meltdown", "The Bourne Identity" series, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and "Robots."

Powell's work on 2010's "How To Train Your Dragon" landed him two International Film Music Critics Association Awards (Score of The Year, Best Score for an Animated Feature) and earned him his first Academy Award®nomination at the 83rd Academy Awards.

Jónsi, internationally known for being the guitarist and vocalist for Icelandic post-rock band, Sigur Rós, isn't new to the scoring world. In addition to composing the score for "We Bought A Zoo," his original song, "Sticks and Stones" for 2010's How To Train Your Dragon, skyrocketed into a world wide hit, with critical praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Indiewire, Stereogum, SPIN, Vulture, Consequence of Sound and more, including a late night performance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

In theaters nationwide June 13, the second chapter of the "How to Train Your Dragon" trilogy returns to the fantastical world of the heroic Viking Hiccup and his faithful dragon Toothless.

The inseparable duo must protect the peace - and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago."How to Train Your Dragon 2" is written and directed by Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch) and features an all-star cast including  Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, Djimon Hounsou, and Kit Harington.

A ZinePak edition of the "How To Train Your Dragon 2" soundtrack will be released on June 10 exclusively at Walmart and Walmart.com. The ZinePak will include the 19-track CD with music from the motion picture, a 64-page magazine including a dragon field guide, games, and activities plus a collectible dragon insignia patch and posters. This limited-edition collectible is available only at Walmart while supplies last.

"How To Train Your Dragon 2: Music from the Motion Picture" Track Listing:

01. Dragon Racing

02. Together We Map the World

03. Hiccup the Chief/Drago's Coming

04. Toothless Lost

05. Should I Know You?

06. Valka's Dragon Sanctuary

07. Losing Mom/Meet the Good Alpha

08. Meet Drago

09. Stoick Finds Beauty

10. Flying with Mother

11. For the Dancing and the Dreaming

12. Battle of the Bewilderbeast

13. Hiccup Confronts Drago

14. Stoick Saves Hiccup

15. Stoick's Ship

16. Alpha Comes to Berk

17. Toothless Found

18. Two New Alphas

19. Where No One Goes

Chrissie Hynde news, incl. NYC in-store

Chrissie Hynde has confirmed two U.S. TV performances for the week prior to the domestic release of Stockholm, the first ever album under her own name, out June 10 on Will Travel/Caroline Records in the U.S..

The rock vet will make her first ever appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Colbert Report, June 4 and 5 respectively, performing "Dark Sunglasses," the first single from Stockholm that recently cracked the AAA Top 20.

Additionally, Hynde will be performing an exclusive in-store event at Rough Trade NYC on Sunday, June 1. Fans can pre-order the new album Stockholm at Rough Trade NYC now to gain access to this exclusive event. Fans who pre-order will also receive a limited 7-inch of "Dark Sunglasses," previously released only in the UK for Record Store Day.

Suzanne Vega, Ari Hest concert review: Los Angeles

photo by Armando Brown

A version of my review originally ran in the Orange County Register.

Suzanne Vega had just finished providing background details on jaunty new tune “Fool’s Complaint” at El Rey Theatre when she added, “You don’t really need to know any of this to enjoy the song.”

On the contrary. This veteran New York City folk-rocker/poet often leaves listeners enlightened about topics they rarely hear elsewhere; “Luka,” her Top 5 hit in 1987 about child abuse, is the most obvious example. The fascinating Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles, Vega’s first all-new studio album in seven years following a series of EPs featuring revamped material, is chock full of intriguing tracks.

There are lyrical references to tarot card characters, the physical and spiritual worlds, rapper Macklemore, Czech playwright/politician Vaclav Havel and Mother Teresa. Produced by Irish guitarist Gerry Leonard, a longtime Vega collaborator, the effort came out last February and reached No. 5 on Billboard’s folk chart.

It’s a rich sonic tapestry that utilizes banjo, mandolin, harmonium, trumpet, a Prague chamber orchestra, Taiko drums, jagged guitar work and more to winning effect. Why adult rock radio isn’t all over this material is a mystery.

Fans can also savor a solid new archival DVD from 2003, Solitude Standing: Live, out now via Wienerworld. Despite the title, it was actually filmed in Rome during a world tour for Retropective and a book of song lyrics/poetry. She is accompanied by a bassist on most tracks and has an Italian interpreter on stage. Between some of the 17 songs are poems and stories. The DVD special features include a brief, yet insightful interview and photo gallery.

Tellingly, the El Rey pre-show music featured David Bowie. Several stellar musicians who either played on or toured behind his last two albums (Leonard, Tony Levin, Gail Ann Dorsey, Sterling Campbell, Zachary Alford, Catherine Russell) contributed to Tales as well.

photo by Armando Brown

Leonard was Vega’s lone instrumental foil onstage at this seated L.A. concert, moving from electric to acoustic models and triggering sonic loops for a full sonic scope.

Sporting a black top hat, the star opened the 90-minute set with her debut single from 1985, “Marlene on the Wall.” She revived its rapid-fire wordplay softly and quickly strummed acoustic guitar while Leonard supplied tasteful accents.

Stripped of bossa nova sheen, “Caramel” remained lush and saw Vega pull off a sustained vocal ending. (Despite suffering a cold, her whispery pipes were mostly clear throughout the evening.) “Jacob and the Angel,” the first of five new songs, was tantalizing and trance-like. 

Prior to the intricate, alluring “Gypsy” (off platinum-certified 1986 breakthrough Solitude Standing), Vega reminisceda bit, first about Jeff Gold - the man responsible for helping launch her folk career in Greenwich Village, who happened to be on hand Saturday. Humorous anecdotes about failed attempts at being an Avon lady and receptionist followed.

Before clapping through it for rhythm, she introduced the feisty tongue-twister “Don’t Cork What You Can’t Contain” by admitting surprise that the title wasn’t a subconsciously remembered old proverb. Then she talked about the studio version’s Arabian-sounding sample of “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent – and proceeded to perform some of the suggestive lyrics before getting too embarrassed because her father was in the audience.

The pair rocked out, gently, on a trio of highlights: Leonard gave Pretty in Pink soundtrack cut “Left of Center” an edgier sonic thrust; his staccato playing on “Blood Makes Noise” was truly menacing (and lived up to Vega’s “do you want your faces melted off?” question to the crowd); and the fuzzy bursts and barbed wordplay during an ominous “I Never Wear White” were astounding. (It easily could fit onto the playlist at KROQ, which decades ago used to play her music.)

Vega closed the main set with her most enduring songs: first “Luka,” still subtly powerful, and then Leonard looped in some rhythmic bits to bring their funky performance of “Tom’s Diner” more in line with DNA’s 1990 dance remix smash, with its originator working the stage in black high heels and having fun.

With any luck, she will return with a full band in the future and make her new Tales soar even higher.

photo by Armando Brown

Another NYC artist, Ari Hest, opened with a commanding 40-minute acoustic set. The NPR favorite, who started putting out albums a decade ago, has placed songs in various network television dramas, was once signed to Columbia Records and has shared producers with Vega: her ex-husband Mitchell Froom helmed 2007’s winsome The Break-In, while Leonard handled 2012’s The Fire Plays.

At the El Rey, the 34-year-old at times recalled Mat Kearney or a more serious Matt Nathanson, with introspection that left a lasting impression. He previewed a few songs from impressive upcoming album Shouts and Whispers, due June 8.

Best of that lot was the easygoing “How We’ll Always Be,” about giving up the fight, and the hopeful “Bonafide.” Other highlights included “Concrete Sky,” during which Hest banged lightly on his guitar for a beat, the highly appealing “All Because” and the slight jazz feel of “Something to Look Forward To.”

R.E.M. catalog, rarities mastered for iTunes

Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Bros. Records announced that R.E.M.’s complete catalogs of studio albums and rarities—from both labels—are now mastered for iTunes. This ensures that the music is delivered to listeners with increased audio fidelity that more closely replicates what the artists, recording engineers and producers intended.

The music is available now on the iTunes Store worldwide (iTunes.com/REM). Fans may download albums and tracks individually, or in four special bundles: COMPLETE I.R.S. STUDIO ALBUMS, COMPLETE RARITIES – I.R.S. 1982-1987, COMPLETE WARNER BROS. STUDIO ALBUMS, VOL. 1, and COMPLETE RARITIES – WARNER BROS. 1988-2011.

COMPLETE I.R.S. STUDIO ALBUMS is comprised of six studio albums, including R.E.M.’s debut EP Chronic Town (1982), albums Murmur (1983), Reckoning (1984), Fables of The Reconstruction (1985), and Lifes Rich Pageant (1986); as well as the double-platinum Document (1987).

The COMPLETE RARITIES – I.R.S. 1982-1987 bundle collects 25 hard-to-find tracks, including several versions of “Gardening At Night;” the b-sides “White Tornado” and “Voice of Harold;” “Windout” from the Bachelor Party soundtrack; and live, in-studio covers of Roger Miller’s “King of the Road,” Andy Williams “Moon River,” and the Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes” and “There She Goes Again.”

COMPLETE WARNER BROS. STUDIO ALBUMS, VOL. 1 covers the height of the band’s commercial success with five albums that were all certified multi-platinum, including Green (1988), Out Of Time (1991), Automatic For The People (1992), Monster (1994) and New Adventures In Hi-Fi (1996). The remaining five studio albums that R.E.M. recorded for Warner Bros. are available individually, including Up (1998), Reveal (2001), Around The Sun (2004), Accelerate (2008) and the group’s final album, Collapse Into Now (2011).

The COMPLETE RARITIES – WARNER BROS. 1988-2011 bundle is 131 tracks. Among them are: non-album tracks “Memphis Train Blues” and “Redhead Walking”; live performances from Glastonbury (“Everybody Hurts”) and Saturday Night Live (“Bang And Blame”); as well as covers of Syd Barrett’s “Dark Globe” and Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan.”

Also available now is UNPLUGGED: THE COMPLETE 1991 AND 2001 SESSIONS. This collection includes—for the first time ever—both of R.E.M.’s stellar performances on MTV’s popular “Unplugged” series. The set includes every performance from the original broadcasts, as well as 11 songs that never aired.

COMPLETE I.R.S. STUDIO ALBUMS

Chronic Town (1982)
Murmur (1983)
Reckoning (1984)
Fables of The Reconstruction (1985)
Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
Document (1987)

Complete Rarities - I.R.S. 1982-1987 bundle (25 tracks, full details below)

Complete Warner Bros. Studio Albums, Vol.1

Green (1988)
Out Of Time (1991)
Automatic For The People (1992)
Monster (1994)
New Adventures In Hi-Fi (1996)

These additional Warner Bros. Albums are also available Mastered For iTunes

Up (1998)
Reveal (2001)
Around The Sun (2004)
Accelerate (2008)
Collapse Into Now (2011)

Complete Rarities – Warner Bros. 1998-2011 bundle (131 tracks, full details below)

COMPLETE RARITIES – I.R.S. 1982-1987

1. “Radio Free Europe” – Original Hib-Tone Single
2. “Sitting Still” – Original Hib-Tone Single
3. “White Tornado”
4. “Gardening At Night” – Different Vocal Mix
5. “Gardening At Night” – Acoustic
6. “All The Right Friends” – Live In Studio
7. “Moon River” – Live In Studio
8. “Pretty Persuasion” – Live In Studio
9. “There She Goes Again” – Live In Studio
10. “Tighten Up” – Live In Studio
11. “Ages Of You” – Live
12. “We Walk” – Live
13. “1,000,000” – Live
14. “Gardening At Night” – Electric Demo
15. “Just A Touch” – Live In Studio
16. “King Of The Road” – Live In Studio
17. “Pale Blue Eyes” – Live In Studio
18. “Voice Of Harold”
19. “Walter’s Theme” – Live In Studio
20. “White Tornado” – Live in Studio
21. “Windout”
22. “Windout” (With Friends) – Live In Studio
23. “9-9” – Live
24. “Gardening At Night” – Live
25. “Catapult” – Live

COMPLETE RARITIES – WARNER BROS. 1988-2011

1. “Funtime” (Live) (Iggy Pop Cover)
2. “Ghost Rider” (Suicide Cover)
3. “Dark Globe” (Syd Barrett Cover)
4. “Pop Song 89” (Acoustic Version)
5. “Memphis Train Blues” (Non-Album Track)
6. “Skin Tight” (Live Orlando, FL April 30, 1989) (Ohio Players cover)
7. “Losing My Religion” (Acoustic) (Live At KFOG)
8. “Losing My Religion” (Live In Dublin 2005)
9. “Rotary Eleven” (Non-Album Track)
10. “You Are The Everything” (Live - Greensboro Coliseum, NC 11/10/1989)
11. “Love Is All Around” (Live)
12. “Shiny Happy People” (Dance To The Music Mix)
13. “Shiny Happy People” (Pop Mix)
14. “Shiny Happy People” (Hip Mix)
15. “It’s a Free World Baby” (Non-Album Track)
16. “Winged Mammal Theme” (Non-Album Track)
17. “First We Take Manhattan” (Leonard Cohen Cover)
18. “Everybody Hurts” (Album Fade)
19. “Mandolin Strum” (Non-Album Track)
20. “Orange Crush” (Live Version)
21. “Man On The Moon” (Album Edit)
22. “Arms Of Love” (Non-Album Track)
23. “World Leader Pretend” (Live) (Charleston WV 4/28/91)
24. “Belong” (Live) (Charleston WV 4/28/91)
25. “Low” (Live) (Charleston WV 4/28/91)
26. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (Non-Album Track)
27. “Fretless” (Non-Album Track)
28. “Everybody Hurts” (Live) (9/2/93-Los Angeles for the MTV Video Awards)
29. “Orange Crush” (Instrumental)
30. “Fall On Me” (Live)
31. “Me In Honey” (Live)
32. “Finest Worksong” (Live)
33. “Drive” (Live) (1992)
34. “Funtime” (Live) (1992)
35. “Radio Free Europe” (Live) (1992)
36. “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” (Live at SNL-11/12/94)
37. “Bang And Blame” (Live at SNL-11/12/94)
38. “I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” (Live at SNL-11/12/94)
39. “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” (Radio Version)
40. “Monty Got A Raw Deal” (Live)
41. “Everybody Hurts” (Live) (Athens, GA '92)
42. “Man On The Moon” (Live) (Athens, GA '92)
43. “Bang And Blame” (Album Version w/o Between Track Noise)
44. “Losing My Religion” (Live) (Athens 1992) (Applause Faded)
45. “Country Feedback” (Live) (Athens 1992) (Applause Faded)
46. “Begin The Begin” (Live) (Athens 1992)
47. “Undertow” (Live)
48. “Wichita Lineman” (Live) (Non-Album Track)
49. “New Test Leper” (Live Acoustic)
50. “Tricycle” (Instrumental) (Non-Album Track)
51. “Departure” (Live) (Rome Soundcheck)
52. “Wall Of Death” (From “Beat The Retreat”-Richard Thompson Tribute Album)
53. “The Wake Up Bomb” (Live Version) (Atlanta)
54. “Binky The Doormat” (Live Version) (Atlanta)
55. “King Of Comedy” (808 State Remix)
56. “Be Mine” (Mike On Bus Version)
57. “Love is All Around” (The Troggs Cover)
58. “Sponge” (Vic Chesnutt Cover)
59. “Emphysema” (Non-Album Track)
60. “Sad Professor” (Live In Studio Version)
61. “Why Not Smile” (Oxford American Version)
62. “Surfing The Ganges” (LP Version)
63. “Suspicion” (Live In Studio Version)
64. “Lotus” (Weird Mix)
65. “Electrolite” (Live From Jools Holland)
66. “Man On The Moon” (Live From Jools Holland)
67. “Suspicion” (Live At Ealing Studios)
68. “At My Most Beautiful” (Radio Remix)
69. “Passenger” (Recorded From “Later” With Jools Holland)
70. “Country Feedback” (Recorded From “Later” With Jools Holland)
71. “So. Central Rain” (Live From “Later”)
72. “The Great Beyond” (Non-Album Track)
73. “The One I Love” (Live From Glastonbury Festival)
74. “Everybody Hurts” (Live From Glastonbury Festival)
75. “Man On The Moon” (Live From Glastonbury Festival)
76. “Yellow River” (Non-Album Track)
77. “165 Hillcrest” (Non-Album Track)
78. “Imitation Of Life” (Live From Trafalgar Square)
79. “Summer Turns To High” (32 Chord Song Demo)
80. “I’ve Been High” (Live Video Version) (Channel V, Sydney)
81. “The Lifting” (Original Version)
82. “Beat A Drum” (Dalkey Demo)
83. “2JN” (Non-Album Track)
84. “Favorite Writer” (Non-Album Track)
85. “Out in the Country” (Non-Album Track)
86. “Adagio” (Unused Tune)
87. “Turn You Inside-Out” (Live Version)
88. “Chance” (Dub)
89. “Drive” (Live Version) (1994)
90. “Star Me Kitten” (Featuring W.S. Burroughs)
91. “Revolution” (Non-Album Track)
92. “Leave” (Alternate Version)
93. “The Lifting” (Demo)
94. “The One I Love” (Live Version) (MMM Sydney)
95. “Maps & Legends” (Live Rehearsal Version)
96. “Tongue” (Live Rehearsal Version)
97. “Little America” (Live Rehearsal Version)
98. “South Central Rain” (Live Rehearsal Version)
99. “Imitation Of Life” (Live Rehearsal Version)
100.“So Fast, So Numb” (Live) (Athens Rehearsal Sessions, 2004)
101.“All The Right Friends” (Live) (Athens Rehearsal Sessions, 2004)
102.“Animal” (New Mix)
103.“Pretty Persuasion” (Live) (NYC 2003)
104.“Welcome To The Occupation” (Live) (NYC 2003)
105.“You Are The Everything” (Live) (Raleigh, NC-Oct. 10, 2003)
106.“These Days” (Live) (Toronto-Sept. 30, 2003)
107.“(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville” (Live) (Oslo NRK P1 National Radio-Oct. 25, 2003)
108.“Wanderlust” (Live-Santa Barbara, CA 2004)
109.“Sweetness Follows” (Live) (Recorded in Cincinnati-Oct. 27, 2004)
110.“Horse To Water” (Live In Vancouver)
111.“Indian Summer” (Non-Album Track)
112.“Living Well Is The Best Revenge” (Live In London)
113.“Auctioneer” (Live In London)
114.“Hollow Man” (Live In London)
115.“Supernatural Superserious” (Live In London)
116.“Fall On Me” (Live In London)
117.“West Of The Fields” (Live In London)
118.“Horse To Water” (Live In London)
119.“Man-Sized Wreath” (Live In London)
120.“Man On The Moon” (Live In London)
121.“Mr. Richards” (Vancouver)
122.“Living Well Jesus Dog” (Non-Album Track)
123.“Airliner” (Non-Album Track)
124.“Redhead Walking” (Non-Album Track)
125.“Houston” (iTunes Live From London)
126.“Harborcoat” (Live At The Olympia)
127.“Letter Never Sent” (Live At The Olympia)
128.“Second Guessing” (Live At The Olympia)
129.“Pretty Persuasion” (Live At The Olympia)
130.“NOLA-4/26/10” (Non-Album Track)
131.“That Someone Is You” (Live In The Studio)

Bon Jovi 30th Anniversary catalog campaign starts with 'New Jersey'

Since I interviewed Dave Bryan and saw the band live last year, I'm really looking forward to hearing this...

Bon Jovi has announced an extensive 30th Anniversary catalog campaign with Island/UMe. The initiative will launch with the July 1 release of album New Jersey in a remastered single CD and digital edition, a double CD and digital deluxe edition and 2CD/1DVD Super Deluxe Edition.

 

More 30th Anniversary commemorative titles, including newly-compiled collections of studio and live recordings, are scheduled for release this year.

Released in September 1988, New Jersey spent four weeks at No. 1 in the U.S. and spawned five Top 10 singles (“Bad Medicine;” “Born To Be My Baby;” “I’ll Be There For You;” “Living In Sin;” and “Lay Your Hands On Me” – the only rock album ever with that many Top 10 hits. The album is multi-platinum in the U.S. and has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

Bon Jovi originally envisioned the album project as a double LP, using the working title Sons Of Beaches. But Mercury Records released the album as a 12-track single LP and the band renamed it in honor of their home state. With the new editions, the one originally imagined by Bon Jovi can finally be shared with fans.

The 2CD deluxe edition which will also be available digitally, includes the remastered original album, plus three bonus tracks which were originally released as B-sides or CD-single bonus tracks. The deluxe edition's second CD features the 13 Sons Of Beaches demos: more than an hour of previously unreleased demos from the NJ recording sessions, remixed exclusively for this project.

 

Also included is a 32-page booklet with rare images of the band from the NJ era, including never-before-seen photos from the making of the album; images and memorabilia from the mammoth 16-month, 26-country, 267-show New Jersey world tour; insider commentary on the bonus tracks and much more.

The super deluxe edition also features the remastered original album and all of the bonus audio tracks included on the deluxe version, plus a DVD with the behind-the-scenes documentary ‘ACCESS ALL AREAS: A ROCK & ROLL ODYSSEY.’

 

Director Wayne Isham, who also directed the music videos for Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet and New Jersey singles, followed the band around the globe with a documentary film crew to chronicle the entire New Jersey tour, including Bon Jovi’s Homecoming concert at Giants Stadium, the band’s history-making concert at Lenin Stadium in Moscow, and their visits to iconic landmarks and historic concert venues around the world.

 

The extensive footage was edited for 88-minute film released in 1990 on VHS, but never before available on DVD in North America. Also included on the set’s DVD are the seven official music videos commissioned from Isham for the New Jersey album. The super deluxe edition will be housed in a special DVD-sized digipak with a 60-page softcover book including rare photos and memorabilia.

Track listing:

Single CD

 

1. Lay Your Hands On Me
2. Bad Medicine
3. Born To Be My Baby
4. Living In Sin
5. Blood On Blood
6. Homebound Train
7. Wild Is The Wind
8. Ride Cowboy Ride
9. Stick To Your Guns
10. I’ll Be There For You
11. 99 In The Shade
12. Love For Sale

Deluxe (2CD, digital)

 

DISC 1: NEW JERSEY (original album, remastered) + bonus tracks

1. Lay Your Hands On Me
2. Bad Medicine
3. Born To Be My Baby
4. Living In Sin
5. Blood On Blood
6. Homebound Train
7. Wild Is The Wind
8. Ride Cowboy Ride
9. Stick To Your Guns
10. I’ll Be There For You
11. 99 In The Shade
12. Love For Sale

Bonus Tracks:

13. The Boys Are Back In Town (Cover of the Thin Lizzy classic; previously released on Stairway To Heaven/Highway To Hell compilation; released in the U.K. as a 12” single B-side)
14. Love Is War (B-side from Living In Sin single)
15. Born To Be My Baby (Acoustic Version; previously released as a b-side in Japan)

DISC 2: The ‘SONS OF BEACHES’ Demos

(** All tracks on DISC 2 are previously unreleased)

1. Homebound Train
2. Judgment Day
3. Full Moon High
4. Growin’ Up The Hard Way
5. Let’s Make It Baby
6. Love Hurts
7. Backdoor To Heaven
8. Now And Forever
9. Wild Is The Wind
10. Stick To Your Guns
11. House Of Fire
12. Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?
13. Diamond Ring

Super Deluxe Edition

DISC 1: NEW JERSEY (original album, remastered) + bonus tracks
DISC 2: The ‘SONS OF BEACHES’ Demos (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
DISC 3 (DVD):

1. ‘ACCESS ALL AREAS: A ROCK & ROLL ODYSSEY’

Directed by Wayne Isham.

The original 1990 88-minute documentary of the band’s epic 16-month world tour in support of the NEW JERSEY album; includes rare backstage, on-the-road, and live concert footage.

First time released in the U.S. on DVD format

2. MUSIC VIDEOS from the NEW JERSEY album

All directed by Wayne Isham

- Bad Medicine (1st Version)
- Born To Be My Baby
- I’ll Be There For You
- Lay Your Hands On Me
- Living In Sin
- Blood On Blood
- Bad Medicine (2nd Version)

Original audio produced by Bruce Fairbairn; engineered and mixed by Bob Rock

ZZ Top's new retrospective, summer tour dates

Warner Bros. Records will release The Very Baddest of ZZ TOP in single and double CD versions, plus digitally, on July 22.

 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers kick off their summer world tour in June and do a run of U.S. dates with Jeff Beck starting in July. For their first tour together, fans will be treated to full sets by Beck and ZZ TOP.

 

"We're glad that material originally issued by three different labels over the course of all these years will now be housed under one 'roof,' so to speak. It's kind of a big, bad family reunion on some level," notes Billy F. Gibbons who, along with Dusty Hill and Frank Beard have maintained ZZ TOP's original line-up since the band's founding at the end of 1969.

The single disc version has 20 tracks that span three decades. All of the signature hits are here, from "La Grange,” “Tush” and “Cheap Sunglasses” to MTV staples “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man,” plus more recent tracks like “Rhythmeen” and “Mescalero.” Several “Single Versions” of these hits are included, which are currently unavailable on CD or digitally.

On the two-disc version are 40 tracks that form a more detailed snapshot of the trio’s career. In addition to including every song heard on the single disc collection, Very Baddest digs deeper into early albums to tracks like “Pearl Necklace,” “Just Got Paid” and “(Someone Else Been) Shaking Your Tree.” The collection also spotlights later albums like XXX (1999) and Mescalero (2003) with “Fearless Boogie” and “Que Lastima.”

 

Appropriately, the collection closes with ZZ TOP’s take on “As Time Goes By,” a song made famous by the 1942 movie Casablanca. 

THE VERY BADDEST OF ZZ TOP

Single Disc Track Listing

1. “Gimme All Your Lovin’” – Single Version
2. “Sharp Dressed Man” – Single Version
3. “La Grange”
4. “Tush”
5. “Doubleback”
6. “I Thank You” – Single Version
7. “Cheap Sunglasses” – Single Version
8. “Legs” – Single Version
9. “Tube Snake Boogie”
10. “Waitin’ For The Bus”
11. “Jesus Just Left Chicago”
12. “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”
13. “Pincushion”
14. “Got Me Under Pressure”
15. “Rough Boy” – Single Version
16. “Velcro Fly” – Single Version
17. “Rhythmeen”
18. “What’s Up With That?”
19. “Mescalero”
20. “Viva Las Vegas” – Single Version

THE VERY BADDEST OF ZZ TOP

Double Disc Track Listing

Disc One

1. “Gimme All Your Lovin’” – Single Version
2. “Sharp Dressed Man” – Single Version
3. “La Grange”
4. “Tush”
5. “(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree”
6. “Francine”
7. “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers”
8. “It’s Only Love”
9. “Arrested For Driving While Blind”
10. “I Thank You” – Single Version
11. “Cheap Sunglasses” – Single Version
12. “Tube Snake Boogie”
13. “Pearl Necklace”
14. “Just Got Paid”
15. “Waitin’ For The Bus”
16. “Jesus Just Left Chicago”
17. “Heard It On The X”
18. “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”
19. “Dust My Broom”
20. “Velcro Fly” – Single Version
21. “Party On The Patio”

Disc Two

1. “Viva Las Vegas” – Single Version
2. “Pincushion”
3. “Legs” – Single Version
4. “Got Me Under Pressure”
5. “Sleeping Bag”
6. “Rough Boy” – Single Version
7. “Doubleback”
8. “My Head’s In Mississippi”
9. “Give It Up”
10. “Just Got Back From Baby’s”
11. “Blue Jean Blues”
12. “She’s Just Killing Me”
13. “What’s Up With That?”
14. “Rhythmeen”
15. “Loaded”
16. “Fearless Boogie”
17. “Mescalero”
18. “Que Lastima”
19. “As Time Goes By”

ZZ TOP TOUR DATES

June
11 Bergen, Norway Bergenfest
13 Oulu, Finland Raatth Football Stadium
14 Helsinki, Finland Kaisaniemen Puisto
16 Stockholm, Sweden Grona Lund
18 Aalborg, Denmark Skovdalen
20 Cologne, Germany Tanzbrunnen
21 Stuttgart, Germany Schleyerhalle
22 Hinwil, Switzerland Rock The Ring Festival
24 Amsterdam, Netherlands Heineken Music Hall
25 Brussels, Belgium Forest National
26 Esch Sur Alzette, Lux Rockhal
28 Nimes, France Festival De Nimes
29 Lyon, France Festival Les Nuits Fourvieres
30 Milan, Italy City Sound Open Air

July
2 Saarbrucken, Germany Saarlandhalle Saarbrucken
26 West Bend, WI Washington County Fair Park
27 Cincinnati, OH The Shoe
29 Louisville, KY Iroquois Amphitheater

August
1 Bethlehem, PA “Bethlehem Musikfest” at PNC Plaza At Steelstacks
6 Sturgis, SD “Sturgis Rally” at Sturgis Buffalo Chip
 

Appearing with Jeff Beck:
8 Missoula, MT Ogren Park at Allegiance Field
9 Woodinville, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
10 Eugene, OR Cuthbert Amphitheater
12 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
13 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
15 Murphys, CA Ironstone Vineyards
16 Las Vegas, NV The Joint @ Hard Rock Hotel / Casino
20 Englewood, CO Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
22 Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre
23 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
24 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amph. St. Louis
27 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
28 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival At Ravinia Park
31 Mashantucket, CT MGM Grand At Foxwoods

September
2 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
3 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
4 Wantagh, NY Nikon At Jones Beach Theater
6 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amph. At Encore Park
7 Saint Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre
12 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion