Out now: The Beatles - 'Revolver' special edition packages

Whenever part of The Beatles' catalog (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles, Abbey Road, Let It Be) has been spruced up in recent years, many longtime fans - this writer included - feel as if they're listening to the music for the first time. 

Now, the band's 1966 classic Revolver was just reissued in newly mixed and expanded Special Edition packages via Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe.

Once again, producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell were at the boards to create sparkling new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes with the album’s original mono mix taken from its 1966 mono master tape. 

Thanks to a modern de-mixing technology developed by the team responsible for Peter Jackson's 2021 "Get Back" documentary series (still streaming on Disney+ and also available on home video), they were able to isolate the instrumental tracks and bring them more to the fore.  

Both physical and digital Super Deluxe collections have the album’s original mono mix, over two dozen early takes from the sessions and three home demos, plus a four-track EP with new stereo mixes and remastered original mono mixes for “Paperback Writer” and “Rain”. The album’s new Dolby Atmos mix is available digitally.

The highly recommended Super Deluxe CD (and vinyl) collections come with a 100-page white hardback book with black lettering. It features a foreword from Paul McCartney, an intro by Giles Martin, insightful track by track notes by Kevin Howlett, seldom and unseen photos, rare images of handwritten lyrics, tape boxes, and recording sheets, 1966 print ads, extracts from original album cover artist/musician Klaus Voormann’s "Revolver" graphic novel and more.

This album saw the band - McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, with brief guest appearances by the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones and Marianne Faithfull - delving into multiple genres (Indian, chamber music, etc.) and being more adventurous in the studio.  

 

Released on August 5, 1966, Revolver spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the UK albums chart, and a double A-side 7" single with “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yellow Submarine” reached the pole position there for four weeks in August and September.

In America, Capitol Records put out an 11-track version of Revolver. It was No.1 for six weeks on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. "I’m Only Sleeping," "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Doctor Robert" had already been released from the sessions for Capitol’s North American release of the Yesterday And Today compilation album that June. 

Among the revelatory stereo tracks on the new edition of the main album:

>The rollicking bassline, wicked electric guitar snatches, dry drums and cowbell on opener "Taxman" - all more pronounced than ever.

>That dramatic string octet on "Eleanor Rigby" literally sounds like the players are bowing their wood instruments right beside you.

>Chiming acoustic guitar and electric guitar interjections during "I'm Only Sleeping" are much clearer.

>Sweet and supple harmonies on McCartney's tender "Here, There and Everywhere" totally stand out.

>"Yellow Submarine" has a few sound effects so real (this is 1966, mind you), they're almost jarring.

>Original album producer Sir George Martin's warm piano tinkling on the ebullient "Good Day Sunshine" are more direct.

>The circuitous electric guitar work on "Doctor Robert" is brawnier.

>"Got to Get You Into My Life" has punchier horns.

>The trippy, experimental closer "Tomorrow Never Knows" still remains weirdly wonderful and like nothing recorded since (and we can hear where Liam Gallagher of Oasis got his trademark enunciation influence).  

The EP features a rockier sounding "Paperback Writer" and janglier "Rain" in stereo. 

For the two studio sessions discs, highlights include:

>Two different versions of "Got to Get You Into My Life." Take 5, sans horns, has McCartney, George Martin and John Lennon discussing the best way to start off, extra lyrics that were later cut and some mid-song chatter. The second rock version is quite different.

>Various work tape versions of "Yellow Submarine" show how the song evolved, from unadorned acoustic to quite detailed.

>"Eleanor Rigby (Take 2)" finds Martin discussing with the Fab Four whether they think vibrato should be used on the string octet. 

Other songs are presented in various stages, giving you the opportunity to ponder, 'What if they kept the arrangement that way for the final version?' 

Here are the track listing details for the Super Deluxe box set (5CD + 100-page hardbound book in slipcase/digital audio collection)...

CD1: Revolver (New stereo mix)
1: Taxman
2: Eleanor Rigby
3: I’m Only Sleeping
4: Love You To
5: Here, There And Everywhere
6: Yellow Submarine
7: She Said She Said
8: Good Day Sunshine
9: And Your Bird Can Sing
10: For No One
11: Doctor Robert
12: I Want To Tell You
13: Got To Get You Into My Life
14: Tomorrow Never Knows

CD2: Sessions One
1: Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)
2: Tomorrow Never Knows (Mono mix RM 11)
3: Got To Get You Into My Life (First version) – Take 5
4: Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version) – Unnumbered mix - mono
5: Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version) – Take 8
6: Love You To (Take 1) - mono
7: Love You To (Unnumbered rehearsal) - mono
8: Love You To (Take 7)
9: Paperback Writer (Takes 1 and 2) – Backing track – mono
10: Rain (Take 5 – Actual speed)
11: Rain (Take 5 – Slowed down for master tape)
12: Doctor Robert (Take 7)
13: And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) – Take 2
14: And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) – Take 2 (giggling)

CD3: Sessions Two
1: And Your Bird Can Sing (Second version) – Take 5
2: Taxman (Take 11)
3: I’m Only Sleeping (Rehearsal fragment) - mono
4: I’m Only Sleeping (Take 2) - mono
5: I’m Only Sleeping (Take 5) - mono
6: I’m Only Sleeping (Mono mix RM1)
7: Eleanor Rigby (Speech before Take 2)
8: Eleanor Rigby (Take 2)
9: For No One (Take 10) – Backing track
10: Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape – Part 1) - mono
11: Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape – Part 2) – mono
12: Yellow Submarine (Take 4 before sound effects)
13: Yellow Submarine (Highlighted sound effects)
14: I Want To Tell You (Speech and Take 4)
15: Here, There And Everywhere (Take 6)
16: She Said She Said (John’s demo) - mono
17: She Said She Said (Take 15) – Backing track rehearsal

CD4: Revolver (Original mono master)
Album tracklist (same as above)

CD5: Revolver EP
1: Paperback Writer (New stereo mix)
2: Rain (New stereo mix)
3: Paperback Writer (Original mono mix remastered)
4: Rain (Original mono mix remastered)

Available at all major music retailers and streaming services

Photo: Apple Corps/UMe/Capitol

Out now digitally: 'Everybody Knows It's Christmas' by Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak has released his new holiday album Everybody Knows It's Christmas digitally via Sun Records/Virgin UMG. The album features 13 tracks of originals and covers including his new original track “Almost Christmas.” A vinyl edition of the album as well as the CD will be released November 18. Listen to the new album now HERE.

Everybody Knows It’s Christmas is Isaak's second career holiday album since his chart-topping 2004 Christmas on Warner Bros. Records. Isaak will support the album with the Everybody Knows It’s Christmas Tour kicking off November 25. Tour dates are on sale now via www.chrisisaak.com with additional dates to be announced. Find the full list of the Everybody Knows It’s Christmas Tour dates and tickets HERE.

“The holidays are such a special time for me and the pandemic left us all so isolated. I felt like a holiday album was a great opportunity to bring people together this year. I had so much fun making this album and designing the cover,” says Isaak. “It was a joy to work with Dave Cobb and we worked in his iconic RCA studio where John Prine had placed a year-round Christmas tree to keep the holidays alive. I loved that idea so I’m going to keep that spirit alive.”

Track Listing:

1. Winter Wonderland
2. Jingle Bell Rock
3. Holiday Blues
4. Run Rudolph Run
5. I Believe In Santa Claus
6. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
7. Everybody Knows It’s Christmas
8. Christmas Comes But Once A Year
9. Help Me Baby Jesus
10. Dogs Love Christmas Too
11. Wrapping Presents For Myself
12. Almost Christmas
13. O Holy Night

Tour Dates:

Nov. 25 - Cary Hall - Lexington, MA
Nov. 26 - MGM Springfield - Springfield, MA
Nov. 28 - The Birchmere - Alexandria, VA
Dec. 1 - Keswick Theatre - Glenside, PA
Dec. 3 - Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts - Annapolis, MD
Dec. 4 - Paramount Center for the Arts - Bristol, TN
Dec. 5 - Academy Center of the Arts - Lynchburg, VA
Dec. 7 - Nancy and David Billheimer Capitol Theatre - Clearwater, FL
Dec. 8 - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall - Sarasota, FL
Dec. 10 - The Bell Auditorium - Augusta, GA
Dec. 13 - Florida Theatre - Jacksonville, FL
Dec. 15 - House of Blues New Orleans - New Orleans, LA
Dec. 17 - Choctaw Casinos & Resorts - Grand Theater - Durant, OK
Dec. 18 - House of Blues Houston - Houston, TX
Dec. 19 - The Paramount Theatre - Austin, TX
Dec. 22 - Majestic Theatre - San Antonio, TX
*Additional dates to be announced

Lewis Capaldi's 'Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent' album arrives next spring alongside U.S. tour

Lewis Capaldi's new album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent is slated for May 19 through Capitol Records. Pre-order HERE. Featuring his hit single “Forget Me” (his third consecutive UK No. 1), the album will follow Capaldi’s 2019 full-length debut, Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent — the biggest-selling UK album of both 2019 and 2020. A spring 2023 headline tour of North America is on sale now. See below for the full list of tour dates and venues.

Collaborators on the album include producer Max Martin (The Weeknd) and others. "I don't want to create a new sound for myself, or reinvent myself," Capaldi says of Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent. “The songs I want to write are emotional songs, about love or loss.”

“Forget Me” amassed over two million streams within 24 hours of its premiere and is now approaching 100 million streams globally, in addition to making Capaldi only the third artist this year to land a single at the No. 1 spot on the UK charts in its first week.

“It's about a breakup I went through where after a year, the only real contact I had with my ex was seeing her ‘post-me’ life play out on her Instagram,” he explains. “I was at a point where I was feeling pretty miserable and she seemed like she was moving on and having the best time, thriving, and I hated it. It seemed unfair to me that she appeared happy while I was hurting, and I was fearful she might have forgotten about me completely, so I wrote a song about it.”

Directed by NME Award-winner Louis Bhose, the official video for “Forget Me” served up a shot-for-shot remake of Wham’s 1983 hit “Club Tropicana.” Today, Capaldi unveiled an acoustic version of the track, watch the video HERE.

Tour Dates:

March 30 2023 – Nashville, TN Grand Ole Opry House
April 01 2023 – Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy
April 03 2023 – Washington, DC The Anthem
April 04 2023 – Philadelphia, PA The Metropolitan Opera House
April 06 2023 – New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
April 10 2023 – Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
April 11 2023 – Laval, QC Place Bell
April 14 2023 – Toronto, ON Coca-Cola Coliseum
April 15 2023 – Detroit, MI Masonic Temple Theatre
April 17 2023 – Cincinnati, OH The Andrew J Brady Music Center
April 19 2023 – Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
April 20 2023 – Minneapolis, MN The Armory
April 22 2023 – Denver, CO The Mission Ballroom
April 25 2023 – Vancouver, BC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
April 26 2023 – Seattle, WA WaMu Theater
April 28 2023 – Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds
April 30 2023 – Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre
May 03 2023 – Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
May 06 2023 – Phoenix, AZ Arizona Federal Theatre
May 08 2023 – Austin, TX Moody Amphitheater
May 09 2023 – Dallas, TX South Side Ballroom
May 11 2023 – Houston, TX 713 Music Hall

Rare Cheap Trick 1977 live collection from The Whisky due in December

In June 1977, Cheap Trick was in Los Angeles to record their second album, In Color. To get the band in shape for the record, they booked 5 gigs at the Whisky a Go Go. 

KROQ/106.7 FM DJ Rodney Bingenheimer introduced the group: “The Whisky was packed for every show," he says. "A lot of girls showed up. It was like the ‘new’ Beatles had arrived.” As drummer Bun E. Carlos puts it, “The Whisky shows capture a hungry band. It’s right before we went on tour with KISS and became much more famous than we were at this point. It was two nights where we did all our cool stuff from our first couple of records and it’s chock-full of goodies.”

The tapes were rolling courtesy of the Record Plant’s Mobile Unit One for four out of the five shows. But when At Budokan hit 18 months later and propelled the band to superstar status, the tapes were shelved. 

Out December 16 on Real Gone Music, a limited edition (2000 copies) 4CD set contains all four shows in their entirety (well over half completely unreleased), with liner note quotes from Rick Nielsen, Bun E. Carlos and Robin Zander. 

Track listings:

DISC 1
06/03/1977 - Early Show

1 Rodney Bingenheimer Intro
2 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
3 Elo Kiddies
4 Set Break 1
5 High Roller
6 Southern Girls
7 Cry, Cry
8 Big Eyes
9 Can't Hold On
10 Oh Boy
11 You're All Talk
12 Set Break 2
13 He's a Whore
14 The Ballad of T.V. Violence (I'm Not the Only Boy)
15 Down On the Bay
16 Goodnight

DISC 2

06/03/1977 - Late Show
1 Hello There
2 Come On Come On
3 Set Break 1
4 Oh Candy
5 Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School
6 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
7 Elo Kiddies
8 Loser
9 Taxman, Mr Thief
10 Clock Strikes Ten
11 Set Break 2
12 Big Eyes
13 He's a Whore
15 You're All Talk
16 Auf Wiedersehen

DISC 3

06/04/1977 - Early Show
1 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
2 Elo Kiddies
3 Set Break 1
4 Hot Love
5 Southern Girls
6 Cry Cry
7 Big Eyes
8 Set Break 2
9 Ain't That a Shame
10 Oh Caroline
11 Oh Boy
12 You're All Talk
13 Set Break 3
14 He's a Whore
15 The Ballad of T.V. Violence (I'm Not the Only Boy)
16 Down On The Bay
17 Goodnight

DISC 4

06/04/1977 - Late Show
1 Hello There
2 Come On Come On
3 Set Break 1
4 Oh Candy
5 Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School
6 Please, Mrs. Henry
7 Set Break 2
8 Violins
9 Taxman, Mr Thief
10 Clock Strikes Ten
11 Set Break 3
12 Big Eyes
13 He's a Whore
14 You're All Talk
15 Auf Wiedersehen
16 Encore Break
17 Goodnight

Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket finds 'There Is So Much Here' on album next month

Glen Phillips, the longtime singer/guitarist of Toad The Wet Sprocket, has shared “Stone Throat,” the second single from his forthcoming album, There Is So Much Here, available 11/4 on Compass Records.

On the album’s opening track, Glen sings “A stone throat can’t sing / wooden heart won’t beat/ I’m gonna to meet you in the middle between the wanting and the need.”

He explains, “coming out of lockdown has been a slow process. Getting used to crowds and noise, wanting to run away to places I wasn’t allowed to go for a while, and also valuing the quiet time at home when there was no place to escape to. The push and pull between longing to run away and wanting a strong home base can be a heavy tide... trying to find something that feels like truth in the ebb and flow.”

There Is So Much Here is Glen’s fifth solo album, following 2016's Swallowed by the New, a post-divorce outing about grief. In contrast, There Is So Much Here finds Phillips writing love songs again focusing on gratitude, beauty and staying present. This new collection of songs documents a shift of perspective from dealing with loss to an appreciation of life.

The first single, “Big Changes” is a bridge between the two albums. 

Glen Phillips will tour in support of the album through the end of the year and into 2023.

ABOUT GLEN PHILLIPS: During his years as front man for Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips helped to create the band’s elegant folk/pop sound with honest, introspective lyrics that forged a close bond with their fans. When Toad went on hiatus, he launched a solo career with Abulum, and stayed busy collaborating with other artists on various projects including Mutual Admiration Society, with members of Nickel Creek and Remote Tree Children, an experimental outing with John Morgan Askew.

Track listing:

1. Stone Throat

2. I Was a Riot
3. The Sound of Drinking

4. Big Changes

5. The Bluest Eye

6. Brand New Blue

7. Center of the Circle

8. Skeleton for School

9. Other Birds of Prey

10. Let in Anarchy

11. Call the Moondust

U.S. Tour Dates:

NOV 3 / NOVATO, CA @ Hopmonk Tavern
NOV 4 / NOVATO, CA @ Hopmonk Tavern
NOV 5 / SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ The State Room
NOV 6 / PORTLAND, OR @ The Old Church
NOV 8 / SPOKANE, WA @ Lucky You Lounge
NOV 9 / SEATTLE, WA @ Triple Door
NOV 10 / DENVER, CO @ Soiled Dove Underground
NOV 13 / CHESTERFIELD, MO @ Forest Hills Country Club
NOV 15 / MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ Icehouse
NOV 16 / MILWAUKEE, WI @ Colectivo Coffee on Prospect
NOV 17 / CHICAGO, IL @ City Winery Chicago
NOV 18 / ANN ARBOR, MI @ The Ark
NOV 20 / GRAND RAPIDS, MI @ The Listening Room
DEC 7 / VENICE, CA @ The Venice West
JAN 12 / NASHVILLE, TN @ City Winery
JAN 13 / DECATUR, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
JAN 14-15 / SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL @ 30A Songwriters Festival
JAN 21 / BOSTON, MA @ City Winery

An interview with Joey Santiago of Pixies

Something rare happened when Pixies were making their eighth studio album Doggerel, out now through BMG. 

Joey Santiago finally snagged his first co-writing credits after 25-odd years as lead guitarist. He contributed music on “Dregs of the Wine” and some lyrics to “Pagan Man.”

The first tune finds vocalist/guitarist Black Francis (AKA Charles Thompson IV) name checking Van Halen and comedian Redd Foxx and singing autobiographical lyrics about the pair partying in Las Vegas and drinking under the Hollywood sign back in the day. The guitars shift between Pete Townshend-styled acoustic fury and frantic electric work.

Santiago had always assumed that “Charles liked to be at the helm all the time,” but the front man casually asked in passing whether the guitarist had anything to offer. During some COVID-19 pandemic downtime, Santiago bought a mahogany 1950s Martin 0-18 acoustic guitar from Norman’s Rare Guitars shop in Tarzana, Calif. and really got inspired.

“I just started playing it and coming up with some solid stuff that sounded like it belonged within the Pixies realm,” he said during a recent Rock Cellar interview.

“There was the Initial riff - the intro. I had everything. The only idea I wanted for the arrangement was to have one fast chorus appear and then, ‘go!’ That’s it.”

Recorded earlier this year at a Vermont studio, the compelling new album was produced by Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Rammstein), who previously helmed the Boston-bred band’s last two efforts Beneath the Eyrie (2019) and Head Carrier (2016). The previous experience with Dalgety made everything run smoothly.

“We’re generally on the same wavelength,” affirmed Santiago, who also said being together with his fellow bandmates again after the height of COVID restrictions “felt like an easy way to get back into normalcy.”

Another benefit was the availability of three dozen or so nearly finished songs. Many were initially earmarked for an Americana-leaning Frank Black (Thompson’s other stage name) solo album before being molded into Pixies material. Santiago said their only creative mindset was “Charles will [play] more acoustic guitar. That kind of vibe.”

Once Dalgety whittled down the best of the lot, Santiago knew “there were some obvious ones that we were going to definitely make.” When the guitarist initially heard “Get Simulated,” he thought, “OK, this is going on [the album]. I need to chart this one out and get it ready.’”

The tremolo electric guitar notes that open the doom folk standout “Vault of Heaven” are instantly identifiably Pixies. While some of Santiago’s trademark sounds do get sprinkled among the songs, he “can’t do it too many times in an album. Otherwise, it’s just not fun for me.”

Another highlight is “Thunder and Lightning,” where the choruses each have a different vibe, there’s a quick countdown in Spanish and Santiago’s rich solo has a George Harrison feel. Dalgety encouraged him to experiment and do weird things in the studio.

Santiago confirmed the Beatle (as well as Les Paul, Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, and Jimi Hendrix) was among his formative influences. “Definitely. I’m all about guitar parts, rather than flares, guitar fills. I like those, but the guitar parts are obviously more fulfilling.”

At times, Santiago’s sounds on Doggerel recall 1960s spaghetti western film soundtracks by Ennio Morricone.

“I’m very much a fan of that,” he admitted. “Anything instrumental, I love. Spaghetti westerns are a grown-up version of surf music.”

Pixies music is frequently attached to album or song titles that can send curious fans scurrying to the dictionary. This new release is no exception. Doggerel is defined as: loosely styled and irregular, especially for burlesque and comic effect; marked by triviality or inferiority. Then there’s “You’re Such a Sadducee.” A Sadducee was a member of an ancient Jewish sect. Santiago said nothing surprises him when it comes to Black Francis odd song lyrics or titles.

Although the Pixies have moved beyond brief two-minute tunes that comprised the group’s early material, Santiago says the musicians still add little twists to their more conventional arrangements.

Widely considered among the most influential bands to emerge during the nascent years of college/alternative rock, Santiago and Thompson met while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (they lived in the same suite; Santiago majored in Economics). Thompson went to Puerto Rico on a student exchange trip to study Spanish and then returned to U Mass before dropping out.

The pair formed the Pixies in 1986 with Armstrong rechristened Black Francis. They advertised for musicians, Kim Deal answered first, and agreed to play bass. Her husband suggested David Lovering as the drummer. The Come on Pilgrim EP emerged the next year on U.K. indie label 4AD, followed by full-length debut Surfer Rosa in 1988.

Eventually signing to Elektra, the Pixies became known for a “loud quiet loud” music dynamic that would later inspire Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Thom Yorke of Radiohead. David Bowie often praised the Pixies in interviews, covered “Debaser” live with Tin Machine and would memorably record “Cactus” on 2002’s Heathen.

“It was unbelievable,” recalled Santiago. “Growing up, I looked up to him and was a big fan - still am. For someone like that to compliment you like that is surreal.”

Pixies recorded three more albums and notched half a dozen hits at alt-rock radio such as “Monkey Gone to Heaven,” “Here Comes Your Man,” “Velouria” and a cover of Jesus & Mary Chain’s “Head On” before splitting up in early 1993.

Santiago contributed to some Frank Black albums before moving onto film and TV scoring work. One project was the shrewd 2001-2002 college sitcom “Undeclared,” starring Seth Rogan, Charlie Hunnam and Jay Baruchel. It was created, executive produced and usually written by Judd Apatow.

“I got spoiled working with him because that was the first big project I got other than the first film I cut my teeth to [2000’s “Crime + Punishment in Suburbia”]. Then I got called to work with Judd. I didn’t know what he’d done besides ‘Freaks and Geeks.’ It was so easy to work with him.”

Pixies reformed in 2003 and toured regularly over the next decade until Kim Deal left and was eventually replaced on a permanent basis by Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle, Zwan). Her sublime backing vocals and bass playing are more prevalent than ever on Doggerel.

Santiago said he’d rate her ability to gel with everyone since joining up “an A+ all the way around. She’s definitely in the fold. We all get along with her - that’s the most important part. She’s such a great player. She knows the DNA of the Pixies, so she keeps it intact and holds it dear to her heart.”

Thinking about the Pixies’ first incarnation, Santiago said he considers Bossanova to be his favorite album and one that best encapsulates the band. He feels the musicians were fortunate not to fall into popular Eighties production traps.

“We weren’t into the gated snare [drum] at all. We just wanted to be as natural sounding as possible.”

Santiago definitely believes his guitar playing has improved over the years. “I think I am a better player now. I trust my instincts. I don’t have to really be more cognizant of what chord I’m playing with. If I’m coming up with a guitar line, the results are a lot easier to get to.”

Next month Pixies will embark on a world tour of Japan and Australia through the end of the year. In 2023, the band is scheduled to perform in Europe and the U.K. A major North American tour is planned. See the pixiesmusic.com or the various socials for a full confirmed routing. 

A version of my interview originally appeared in Rock Cellar Magazine.

Pixies photo by Tom Oxley, courtesy of BMG and Herfitz PR 

Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens has a new album on the way next year

Acclaimed Australian singer/songwriter Robert Forster announces his 8th solo album ‘The Candle And The Flame’ to be released on Feb. 3, 2023. Forster has taken a very different path creating this album than with his previous works. The first single is "She’s A Fighter." It reveals only part of what became a journey of creating music with family and friends with a need to find joy and solace in the face of adversity.

"'She’s A Fighter" is the last song I wrote for ‘The Candle And The Flame’ album," says Robert. "I wrote the music for it in June 2021. I liked the tune and the quick energy of the song, but I didn't know yet what it was going to be about. In early July, Karin Bäumler, my wife and musical companion for thirty-two years, received a cancer diagnosis. In late July, with a series of chemotherapy sessions about to begin, Karin talked of fighting for her health and a path through chemotherapy to recovery. The phrase, ’She’s A Fighter’ came to me. I liked it. And I knew immediately that it would work with my new melody. I needed just one other line for the lyric. "Fighting for good. "The song was finished. I had written my first two-line song. I had just out-Ramoned The Ramones! Because the song has so much meaning to us, we decided to record it as a family. The only time this happens on the album. Karin sings and plays xylophone. Our daughter Loretta plays electric guitar. Our son Louis plays guitar, bass and percussion. And I strum an acoustic guitar fiercely and sing. And that’s 'She’s a Fighter'."

That coming together musically as a family is captured in the video for "She’s A Fighter." "The video was shot in the same studio (Alchemix Studios, Brisbane) as the album was recorded in. So there is continuity,” Forster said. “And the way the four of sit in a circle playing, is very much how we recorded ‘She’s A Fighter’ and other tracks on the album."

‘The Candle And The Flame’ consists of 9 songs written by Robert. Produced by Robert, Karin Bäumler and Louis Forster (The Goon Sax), the album was mixed by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey) and features former Go-Betweens and Warm Nights bass player Adele Pickvance as well as Scott Bromiley and Luke McDonald (The John Steele Singers), who worked on Robert’s ‘Inferno’ and ‘Songs To Play’ albums.

“The recording sessions for the album were done sporadically over six months. Sometimes just one or two days a month. As that was all Karin’s strength and condition allowed her to do. So we had to record ‘live’, catching magical moments and going for ‘feel'. And that became the sound of the album,” says Robert.

Robert Forster is planning shows both in Australia and abroad in 2023 with dates to be announced soon. He is currently writing a novel and preparing the release of Volume 3 of The Go-Betweens Boxset series, ‘G Stands For Go-Betweens.’

Luke Bryan teams with Jockey for new apparel line

Earlier this week, Jockey International announced the launch of its Jockey Outdoors™ Collection by Luke Bryan and I was fortunate enough to receive some samples.

The blue flannel shirt, made from a 60% cotton/40% polyester blend, was quite comfortable, with dual front pockets big enough to hold my cell phone.

Meanwhile, the blue graphic t-shirt with a rustic American flag design, was made from 100% cotton and felt really nice. Read more from the official company press release below...

JOCKEY LAUNCHES JOCKEY OUTDOORS™ COLLECTION WITH COUNTRY SUPERSTAR LUKE BRYAN

With the Jockey Outdoors™ collection, men don't have to sacrifice comfort for performance. Providing more than just protection, you could say these outdoor clothes are a lot like the guys they're built for: tough on the outside, and soft—but strong—on the inside.

"When my friends at Jockey first brought this up it was an easy 'yes' for me," said Luke Bryan. "One, they are just a wonderful company with values that align with mine and two, I have always been an advocate for the love of outdoors, so it was a no brainer. Once I got my hands on the product and felt the quality, I became even more fired up for this to show up in the stores."

Engineered with intelligent layers, premium fabrics and performance technology, the compatible pieces are designed to layer, with seams strategically placed to eliminate bulk and keep him covered. The men's collection features: long sleeve woven, corduroy and flannel shirts and shackets; a long-sleeve performance fishing shirt with vertical ventilation, rod holder tab on the left chest and a hidden soft microfiber cloth for easy sunglass cleaning; long-sleeve henleys and crews; graphic tees; and convertible, utility, and flannel-lined pants.

"As an avid outdoorsman and already a Jockey brand ambassador, Luke was the perfect fit for this next step for Jockey, allowing us to step back to our roots, incorporate our base layer expertise and develop the Jockey Outdoors Collection, which we think will be a hit with our consumers," said Mark Fedyk, president and COO, Jockey. "Luke was highly involved in the design and painstaking quality standards of the line. His attention to detail, demand for quality, and expectation of performance and comfort aligned perfectly with our brand pillars. The collection is designed where comfort starts – at your skin – building solutions from the inside-out for greater comfort and performance."

Through the end of the calendar year, 2022, Jockey will donate a portion* of sales of the Jockey Outdoors™ Collection to support adoptive and foster families across the United States, a cause Jockey has championed since 2005 with the creation of the Jockey Being Family Foundation, Ltd. (JBF).

To support the launch, a national television ad spot will run during the CMA Awards, which is to be hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.

The Jockey Outdoors™ collection is available now. Step outdoors and experience comfort built from the inside out at Jockey.com/Outdoors, Jockey retail stores, BassPro.com (coming soon), and with additional select retailers in 2023.

Founded in 1876, Jockey International, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned company with global headquarters in Kenosha, Wis. Started by Rev. Samuel T. Cooper as a sock company to serve lumberjacks of the day, the company has expanded into one of the most well-known apparel brands around the world. Today, Jockey® products are sold in more than 140 countries. Jockey is committed to quality and innovation, caring for generations of families, and the passionate pursuit to satisfy the human need for comfort. Visit Jockey.com to experience the quality.

*Valid 10.1.2022 thru 12.31.2022. Jockey will donate 1% of the purchase price of all Jockey Outdoors™ products sold at US Jockey store and on Jockey.com to the Jockey Being Family Foundation, Ltd. Purchase is not tax deductible. To learn more, visit Jockeybeingfamily.com

A closer look:

Green Day's 'Nimrod' gets 25th Anniversary box set in January

Green Day's 'Nimrod 25 - 25th Anniversary Edition box set' is out January 27, 2023. It includes the original album, one disc of previously unreleased demos, and a live set from Philadelphia’s Electric Factory recorded on November 14, 1997 one month after Nimrod’s release.

The 20-song live set includes several songs from Nimrod, plus fan favorites from their previous albums and singles. The 14 track demos disc includes two unreleased Green Day songs (“You Irritate Me” (OUT NOW) and “Tre Polka”, plus a cover of the classic Elvis Costello song “Alison” (previously unreleased).

Listen to “You Irritate Me” HERE
Pre-order/Pre-save Nimrod (25th Anniversary Edition) HERE

Nimrod was originally released on October 14 1997. The Billboard Top 10 album was driven by the hit singles “Hitchin’ A Ride”, “Redundant”, “Nice Guys Finish Last” and “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” the latter of which has sold 5 million copies in the US alone. The song was heard in the Seinfeld TV series finale. The album was certified triple platinum in the US and has been certified multi-platinum, platinum or gold in several other countries, including the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and Spain. 

There are two versions of the limited edition, numbered, 5 LP vinyl box: a black vinyl version, plus a limited edition D2C and indie store exclusively pressed on silver vinyl. The vinyl box comes with a 20 page, 12” x 12” book, poster, cloth patch, exclusive slip-mat and commemorative back-stage pass. The 3 CD box set includes booklet, cloth patch and commemorative back-stage pass.

The band is also bringing back a much sought after fan favorite vintage t-shirt along with other Nimrod-era merch available for a limited time in the band’s webstore. Check it out here: https:// store.greenday.com/

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band brought their sold-out Hella Mega headline stadium run to the UK and Europe this past summer, as well as, headlining festivals including Innings, Shaky Knees, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Rio In Rio, Sea Hear Now, & Firefly. Green Day played the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix performing to over 65,000 fans, the largest crowd in over three years. They will headline the Formula 1 Armaco United States Grand Prix next weekend in Austin, TX.

Contents:

Vinyl Box (5 LPs):
LP 1 & 2: Nimrod
LP 3: Nimrod Demos
LP 4 & 5: Live at The Electric Factory 1997

CD Box (3 CDs):
CD 1: Nimrod
CD 2: Nimrod Demos
CD 3: Live at The Electric Factory 1997

Track listing:

1. Nice Guys Finish Last
2. Hitchin’ A Ride
3. The Grouch
4. Redundant
5. Scattered
6. All The Time
7. Worry Rock
8. Platypus (I Hate You)
9. Uptight
10. Last Ride In
11. Jinx
12. Haushinka
13. Walking Alone
14. Reject
15. Take Back
16. King For A Day
17. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
18. Prosthetic Head

Nimrod Demos:

1. Nice Guys Finish Last
2. Place Inside My Head
3. The Grouch
4. Walking Alone
5. Jinx
6. Alison
7. Espionage
8. You Irritate Me
9. Tre Polka
10. When It’s Time
11. Desensitized
12. Chain Saw
13. Reject
14. Black Eyeliner

Live at the Electric Factory, Philadelphia
November 14 1997

1. Going To Pasalacqua
2. Welcome To Paradise
3. Geek Stink Breath
4. Nice Guys Finish Last
5. Hitchin’ A Ride
6. The Grouch
7. Chump
8. Longview
9. 2000 Light Years Away
10. Brainstew
11. Jaded
12. Knowledge
13. Basket Case
14. She
15. Fuck Off And Die
16. Paper Lanterns
17. Scattered
18. Prosthetic Head
19. When I Come Around
20. Good Riddance

Archival photo courtesy Warner Records

Out now: 'Rock Candy' by female singer/guitarist Orianthi

I've seen Orianthi perform a few times at the NAMM Show in Anaheim and she always blows me away. I look forward to listening to the new material... 

Platinum-selling recording artist and class guitarist Orianthi has released her new studio album, "Rock Candy." It follows 2020's "O." 

Joining Orianthi on this release is Jacob Bunton, who produced the album. Additionally, he provides guitar, bass, keyboard, piano, and violin playing through the course of the album. Bunton is known for his work with Steven Adler of Guns 'N Roses, amongst others, but he is also an Emmy Award-winning composer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Drummer Kyle Cunningham rounds out the line-up for "Rock Candy".

Orianthi’s first major solo artist success, as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, was with the Geffen Records release of “According To You,” which is now RIAA-Certified Platinum® and has over 17 million streams on Spotify. On TikTok, there are over 83 million views on the “According to You” hashtag making it a viral trend. She has played with or alongside Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Carrie Underwood, Alice Cooper and more. 

Track listing:

Illuminate (Part I)
Light It Up
Fire Together
Where Did Your Heart Go
Red Light
Void
Burning
Living Is Like Dying Without You
Witches & The Devil
Getting To Me
Illuminate (Part II)

Johnny Cash news

In celebration of Sun Records’ 70th anniversary, the legendary label will release a new remastered version of Johnny Cash: With His Hot & Blue Guitar next Friday, just days after the 65th anniversary of the album’s October 11, 1957 debut.

Featuring career-making hits including “I Walk The Line” and “Folsom Prison Blues,” Cash’s debut LP and the first LP ever issued by Sam Phillips on Sun Records — will be released both digitally (marking Sun’s first single artist album to be fully mastered in Dolby ATMOS Spatial Audio), available at all ATMOS-supporting DSPs, and on vinyl. The vinyl LP will be pressed at Memphis Record Pressing in Memphis, TN where the album’s famed songs were originally recorded.

The ATMOS version of the album debuted as an Essential Album on Apple Music, with a featured interview on Apple Music Radio with host Strombo and guest Robert Hilburn. Hilburn, who wrote the liner notes for the vinyl release, is a music critic and author of the best-selling biography Johnny Cash: A Life.

The release marks the final single artist vinyl release in Sun Records’ 70th Anniversary series, which has also featured remastered versions of LPs from Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jeannie C. Riley, The Dixie Cups, Linda Martell, Bettye LaVette, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

About Sun Records:

Established in 1952 by Sam Phillips, Sun Records is the home of music legends including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Linda Martell, Jeannie C Riley, The Dixie Cups, Howlin’ Wolf, Rosco Gordon, and many more. Inherent in the music of Sun is a vibrancy that has reached across race, age, and gender boundaries. This year, Sun Records celebrates the diversity and vision of the talent that has helped shape American popular culture for 70 years.

Track listing:

1. Rock Island Line (Remastered 2022)
2. I Heard That Lonesome Whistle (Remastered 2022)
3. Country Boy (Remastered 2022)
4. If The Good Lord’s Willing (Remastered 2022)
5. Cry, Cry, Cry (Remastered 2022)
6. Remember Me (Remastered 2022)
7. So Doggone Lonesome (Remastered 2022)
8. I Was There When It Happened (Remastered 2022)
9. Walk The Line (Remastered 2022)
10. The Wreck Of The Old ’97 (Remastered 2022)
11. Folsom Prison Blues (Remastered 2022)
12. Doin’ My Time (Remastered 2022)

Pre-save Johnny Cash: With His Hot & Blue Guitar (Remastered 2022) here: https://sunrecords.lnk.to/HotAndBlue

Listen to the Apple Music Album Essentials radio segment: SunRecords.lnk.to/CashAppleRadio

Inhaler's sophomore album arrives in February; touring this fall, winter

Inhaler's sophomore album Cuts & Bruises arrives February 17 via Geffen Records. Pre-order HERE. Hear new single “Love Will Get You There” HERE alongside a video directed by James Arden. 

Cuts & Bruises is the Dublin alt-rock band’s follow-up to the debut album It Won’t Always Be Like This which debuted at No.1 on both the UK & Irish Official Charts. Released in July 2021, It Won’t Always Be Like This became the fastest-selling vinyl debut album in the UK by any band this century and saw Inhaler become the first Irish group to top the Album Charts with a debut in 13 years.

“Love Will Get You There” is the second track to be unveiled from Cuts & Bruises and follows “These Are The Days” which was released in June. The accompanying video for “Love Will Get You There” sees the four band members – vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Jenkinson and drummer Ryan McMahon – performing on a spoof Late Late Show alongside some very intriguing personalities and a game of Ready, Set, Gunge. 

The new album was produced by Antony Genn.

In other news, the band will do a run of four UK dates this week. A world tour starts in November with two homecoming shows at The Olympia in Dublin. The 36-date tour includes 8 headline shows in the UK and a run of North American dates.

Tickets for the world tour go on sale October 21 at 9am. For more information click HERE.

Track listing:

Just To Keep You Satisfied

Love Will Get You There
So Far, So Good
These Are The Days
If You’re Gonna Break My Heart
Perfect Storm
Dublin In Ecstasy
When I Have Her On My Mind
Valentine
The Things I Do
Now You Got Me

Tour dates:

NOV 2022

30th Dublin Olympia Theatre

DEC 2022
1st Dublin Olympia Theatre

FEB 2023
16th Leeds O2 Academy
17th Newcastle NX
18th Liverpool Uni The Mountford Hall
20th Norwich The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA
21st Cardiff University Great Hall
23rd Nottingham Rock City
24th Birmingham O2 Academy 1
25th Bristol O2 Academy 1

MAR 2023
6th Austin Emo’s
7th Houston White Oak Music Hall
8th Dallas The Echo Lounge
10th Nashville Brooklyn Bowl
11th Atlanta Buckhead Theatre
13th Washington DC 9:30 Club
16th Philadelphia DC TLA
17th New York Hammerstein Ballroom
18th Boston House of Blues
20th Montreal Corona Theatre
21st Toronto Danforth Music Hall
23rd Detroit St Andrews Hall
24th Chicago Riviera Theatre
25th Minneapolis First Avenue
27th Denver Summit
28th Salt Lake City The Complex Grand
30th Seattle The Showbox
31st Vancouver Commodore Ballroom

APR 2023
1st Portland Wonder Ballroom
3rd San Francisco The Regency Ballroom
5th Los Angeles The Wiltern Theatre
22nd Brussels Ancienne Belgique

MAY 2023
12th Winterthur Salzhaus
13th Bologna Estragon
14th Rome Orion
16th Milan Alcatraz

Supporting Arctic Monkeys:

APRIL 2023
24th Linz TipsArena
25th Munich Zenith
27th Hamburg Sporthalle
29th Stockholm Avicii Arena
30th Oslo Spektrum

MAY 2023
2nd Berlin Mercedes-Benz Arena
3rd Oberhausen Rudolf Weber-Arena,
5th Amsterdam Ziggo Dome
6th Amsterdam Ziggo Dome
8th Frankfurt Festhalle
9th Paris Accor Arena