Music-themed book review roundup: Tears for Fears' Roland Orzabal, David Bowie, The Eagles

Books With Appealing Music Star Backstories

Roland Orzabal
Welcome to Your Life: Love, Death and Tears for Fears
(Dey Street)

As creative half of Eighties synth pop juggernaut Tears for Fears alongside Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal made major indelible hits like "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Head Over Heels," and "Sowing the Seeds of Love." Here, the British singer/songwriter/guitarist adds a unique spin on the average music memoir by writing about astrology's influence on his life after worldwide fame in 1985. Welcome to Your Life is an engaging read, where Orzabal leaves most star chart talk to each chapter's conclusion. Fans should find the details surrounding his colorful upbringing, broken home (which led to forming bands alongside sympathetic high school acquaintance Smith), TFF albums and tours, delving into Arthur Janov's Primal Therapy, a managerial thief, splitting from Smith and solo years, dealing with his first wife's illness and death, overcoming a harrowing Ambien addiction, the TFF reunion and finding a happy life with a new wife and baby quite interesting. Hardcover, 287 pages. Purchase: amazon.com

Sean Egan

Eagles and 'Hotel California' - 50 Years
(Motorbooks)

This December will mark fifty years since the Eagles' classic fifth studio release came out. Egan's sleek coffee table book - available Sept. 8 - dutifully examines the genesis of America's third best-selling album of all time. The author covers all pertinent career bases: notably the Linda Ronstadt connection, the band's early country-rock albums failing to set the charts afire (though a few singles did well), music critics and the British public's initial indifference to the sound and lyrics, personnel changes (Joe Walsh seemed an odd choice at first), '70s debauchery, how the Hotel California recording transpired, eventual breakup, Don Henley and Glenn Frey's solo career successes, the Eagles' reunion and final album. There are ample archival photos, plus sidebars on collaborators, rivals, studios, execs, and more. Hardcover, with slipcase, 176 glossy pages. Preorder: amazon.com

Alexander Larman

Lazarus: The Second Coming of David Bowie
(Pegasus)

Larman does an impressive job examining the less celebrated second half of David Bowie's career, when the rock legend continued to take compelling musical routes (a hard-edged Tin Machine, the Brian Eno reunion on eerie song cycle Outside, an industrial/jungle-based Earthling), increased acting work and visual art, marriage and fatherhood for a second time. The biography boasts more authenticity than most, thanks to feedback from key Bowie collaborators like Tony Visconti, Mike Garson, Reeves Gabrels, Mark Plati, Gerry Leonard, Gail Ann Dorsey (coincidentally a member of Tears for Fears' touring band for a '90s spell), and others. The book also contains a discography, filmography, bibliography, and notes section. Hardcover, 367 pages. Purchase: amazon.com

Fontaines D.C. news

Fontaines D.C.'s fifth studio album, Dopamine Chamber, is set for Oct. 16 via XL Recordings. Produced by James Ford, it is the follow-up to 2024’s UK platinum-certified Romance. The lead single is “Marianne” and was inspired in part by the 2024 thriller series Ripley.

STREAM “MARIANNE” HERE

WATCH THE "MARIANNE" MUSIC VIDEO HERE

“The album itself is a dopamine chamber,” says the band's Grian Chatten. “You step inside and we test these different mind- or mood-altering pieces of music on you.”

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE DOPAMINE CHAMBER HERE

Formats include LP, deluxe LP, CD, cassette and digital. 

Additionally, the band will do two U.S. gigs next month at Kings Theatre, Brooklyn (September 21) and Hollywood Forever Cemetery (September 25). Fans can get pre-sale tickets here: https://laylo.com/fontainesdc/m/nyla26. General on-sale starts at 10am local time on Friday, August 28.

Of the last album Romance, Chatten says it “was maybe 60 per cent human and 40 per cent corrupted by automation, and a loss of feeling.” He spent time in Venice, Vienna and Sicily in search of lyrical inspiration. “This one feels more like 60 per cent corrupted — the mask is wearing the face a little more.” He resisted any pull towards easy optimism: “I felt it would be more powerful to leave the hope out and reflect the ugliness honestly. This one needed to feel more like a catastrophic warning.”

“Our albums have always questioned a sense of place,” says bassist Conor Deegan. “First Dublin, then being away from Dublin, and then trying to find the romance elsewhere. On this record, the question became: where do you escape to?” 

Adds guitarist Conor Curley, “I was trying to find stuff that pointed into the future.” The new album was made with James Ford between London, the English countryside and Palermo, where Chatten recorded vocals in a makeshift booth built from mattresses and cushions.

“There’s a poignant sense of us being on the brink of some other kind of form of humanity, or non-humanity,” says Chatten. 

The album track listing is TBA.

Live shows:

August 28th - Reading Festival, UK

August 29th - Leeds Festival, UK
August 30th - Electric Picnic, Ireland
September 18th - Shaky Knees, Atlanta, GA, USA
September 20th - Sea.Hear.Now, Asbury Park, NJ, USA
** September 21st - Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, NY, USA (NEW DATE) **
** September 25th - Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA, USA (NEW DATE) **
September 27th - Ohana Festival, Dana Point, CA, USA

Marshall Crenshaw rarities compilation coming in October

Following its limited release as a Record Store Day Exclusive earlier this year, Marshall Crenshaw’s The Bootleg Sounds of Marshall Crenshaw: 1984-87 will receive a wide release on October 23 via Yep Roc Records. The album is now available for pre-order.

Personally curated by Crenshaw from his archives, the collection brings together previously unreleased home demos, live performances, and studio recordings from the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for the top 40 hit single "Someday, Someway" in 1982. 

The Bootleg Sounds of Marshall Crenshaw: 1984-87 looks behind the scenes, through the songwriting process, and the home recordings of songs that shaped his third and fourth albums, Downtown (1985) and Mary Jean & 9 Others (1987). The early demos sit alongside live tracks from 1986 and 1987, as well as other long-lost material from the archives.

A previously unreleased rendition of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” features Gary Tallent and Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Crenshaw's conection to Holly’s music famously includes portraying the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer in the 1987 La Bamba.

“(We’re Gonna) Shake Up Their Minds” stems from a songwriting block when Crenshaw sent the backing track to acclaimed British singer/songwriter Kirsty MacColl to see where she might take it. “Kirsty wrote a song to the track called “All I Ever Wanted”, but by the time I got it back from her in the mail, I’d figured out the storyline to "Shake Up Their Minds," and finished that song.”

Five years later, Kirsty recorded “All I Ever Wanted” for her album, Electric Landlady, and released the track in the UK as a single. "I’m presenting the sequence the way I found it on the tape reel- my demo, followed by the last bit of her demo, which I’d accidentally recorded over.”

Listen/Share: “They Will Never Know”

Crenshaw and his band will hit the road this fall for a run of dates. A complete list is below, and tickets are available here.

Track listing:

1.“They Will Never Know”
2. (We’re Gonna) Shake Up Their Minds
3. All I Ever Wanted (Excerpt)
4. That’ll Be the Day
5. Little Wild One (No. 1) (TV track)
6. The Distance Between
7. Blues Is King (TV track)
8. Right Now
9. Vocal Test
10. Town Without Pity
11. Terrifying Karaoke
12. Synsonics Go Berzerko!!
12. Reet Petite (Live)
13. Try (Live)
14. This Is Easy (Live)

Tour Dates:

October 27 – Hugh’s Room Live – Toronto, Ontario
October 28 – Sportsmen’s Tavern – Buffalo, NY
October 29 – Magic Bag Theater – Ferndale, MI
October 31 – Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago, IL
November 1 – The Acorn Theater – Three Oaks, MI
November 2 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
November 11 – City Winery Boston – Boston, MA
November 12- Fairfield Theater Stage One - Fairfield, CT
November 13 – Daryl’s House Restaurant & Live Music Club – Pawling, NY
November 14 – My Father’s Place – Roslyn, NY
November 17 – Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center – Old Saybrook, CT
November 18 – Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA
November 19 – Elkton Music Hall – Elkton, MD
November 21 – Rams Head on Stage – Annapolis, MD
November 22 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
November 23 – City Winery NYC – New York, NY

Debbie Gibson Expands Christmas Album; Adds December Shows in Las Vegas

I got to interview Debbie in 2024 before she appeared in Pasadena's Rose Parade on New Year's Day '25. Our chat was shorter than I would have liked, but fun. You can find it elsewhere on this blog.

In 2022, Debbie Gibson released her debut holiday album ‘Winterlicious.’ This year, she unveils ‘Winterlicious D’Luxe,’ an expanded collection with tracks from the first installment as well as six new originals. It is set for digital release on October 22 and a double vinyl release on November 6.

Her new Las Vegas run at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower takes place December 17-19*, 20 (*matinee & evening shows). Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. PDT this Friday on the website HERE.

‘Winterlicious D’Luxe’ will include the forthcoming lead single “Lit Up!,” “El Regalo,” done in Spanish, and a holiday reinvention of her top 5 Eighties hit “Out of the Blue.”

“Winterlicious D'Luxe is something I've been quietly working on throughout the year as both a songwriter and artist… I am so ready to put my stamp on all things holiday music and live shows this year,” said Debbie. “As a longtime Las Vegas local, I'm so thrilled to also be partnering with SPI Entertainment and The STRAT for my first ever solo holiday Vegas run! My show will be full of holiday favorites, both original and classics along with my pop hits! It's festive, it's campy and I can't wait to connect with the audience in this classic intimate showroom setting.”

The announcement follows last year's memoir ‘ETERNALLY ELECTRIC’ from Gallery Books. Her first pop album of original material in 20 years, ‘The Body Remembers,’ arrived in 2021 on her own label Stargirl Records. The new album went to No. 2 on the Apple Pop Sales Charts and achieved one million streams in its first month.

Track Listing:

It’s a Small World

Winterlude
Christmas Star
Let It Snow
Lit Up!
I Wish Everyday Is Christmas
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Heartbreak Holiday — duet with Joey McIntyre
The Gift
Out of the Blue Christmas
Jingle Those Bells
The Candy Man
Christmas Dreams
El Regalo
Sleigh Ride
Jingle Bell Rock / The Christmas Song
Angels in the Snow
Illuminate
White Christmas — duet with Daddy Joe
Cheers!

Back to Black, the acclaimed debut by Amy Winehouse to get deluxe anniversary editions

This should be interesting to hear. The only time that I got to see Amy live was at Coachella 2007. 

She played in one of the tents there and "Rehab" was just weeks away from being released as a single in America, though it had come out in the U.K. So those in the know had flocked to see her that afternoon in Indio. 

Read below for info on the special re-release. 

'To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, Republic/UMe will be reissuing the album in various formats which will include unreleased demos, rare B-sides, as well as a live performance from Paradiso, Amsterdam (February 8, 2007) from the Back To Black tour. The formats will also include never-before-seen photos by original album photographers Mischa Richter and Alex Lake, plus new liner notes from producers and friends Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi.

It will be released on October 23, just days before the 20th anniversary of the album’s original release date of October 27, 2006.

In the UK, the album debuted at No. 3 and later reached No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart before going on to be the best-selling album of 2007. The album, which has now sold over 4.5 million copies the UK, debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, eventually peaking at No. 2 following Amy's five-Grammy haul. That night, she won Record of The Year, Song of the Year,   Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance with “Rehab.” 

Now 20 years on and a U.S. double-Platinum RIAA certification later, Back to Black has since topped charts across Europe—including Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland — and has sold well over 25 million copies worldwide. 

For the 20th anniversary, a special 3LP clear-vinyl edition and accompanying 3CD edition features four unreleased demos, plus rare B-sides alongside the deluxe tracks. The third disc features the live performance from Paradiso, Amsterdam, on February 8, 2007, from the Back To Black tour, never released in full on vinyl or streaming before. 

These editions feature new alternative cover artwork, an image from Mark Ronson’s archives of Amy’s handwritten lyrics, and never-before-seen photos by original album photographers Mischa Richter and Alex Lake, plus exclusive liner notes from Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi. 

To complete the anniversary suite of formats, limited edition 1LP variations of the original album include a 1LP “Chalkboard Marble” color vinyl, plus a webstore-exclusive 1LP Zoetrope vinyl featuring moving footage of Amy. 

Preorder Back to Black 20th Anniversary Editions HERE
Presave Back to Black 20th Anniversary HERE

Tracklist: 3LP

LP1 - Side 1 – Back to Black
1 Rehab
2 You Know I'm No Good
3 Me & Mr Jones
4 Just Friends
5 Back to Black
6 Love Is A Losing Game

LP1 - Side 2
1 Tears Dry on Their Own
2 Wake Up Alone
3 Some Unholy War
4 He Can Only Hold Her
5 Addicted

LP2 - Side 3 – B-Sides & Demos
1 Valerie (Live at BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge)
2 Monkey Man
3 Hey Little Rich Girl
4 You're Wondering Now
5 Do Me Good
6 Close To The Front

LP2 - Side 4
1 I'm No Good (You Know I’m No Good - Original Demo)
2. Fuckery (Me & Mr Jones – Original Demo)
3 I’ve Been Drinkin’ (Just Friends – Alternative Version)
4 Back to Black (Original Demo)
5 Love Is a Losing Game (Original Demo)
6 Tears Dry (Alternative Demo)

LP3 – Side 5 – Live from Paradiso Amsterdam / February 8, 2007
1 Addicted
2 Just Friends
3 Tears Dry on Their Own
4 He Can Only Hold Her / Doo Wop (That Thing)
5 Wake Up Alone
6 Back to Black

LP3 - Side 6
1 You Know I’m No Good
2 Me & Mr Jones
3 Rehab
4 Love Is A Losing Game
5 Valerie

Jonas Brothers Tour to make multiple SoCal stops this winter

The Jonas Brothers, who just received the Disney Legends Award at the D23 Convention in Anaheim, have announced a major North American tour that will make SoCal stops in Palm Desert, LA, Anaheim, and San Diego. See routing below. 

"Our last tour reminded us just how much this music means to us and to the fans who've been with us from the start," said the Jonas Brothers in a press release. "The response was so overwhelming announcing the MSG shows that we knew we couldn't stop at New York. We're taking The Burning Up Tour All Over Again on the road so we can relive it with all of you, city by city. We can't wait to run it back with all of you.”

Last week, the Jonas Brothers were also announced as the halftime performers for the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia. Camp Rock 3 premiered on Disney Channel on Thursday before making its streaming debut on Disney+ Friday, arriving nearly two decades after the original film debuted.  

Jonas Brothers are also teaming up with PopUp Bagels for a limited-edition Burning Up Schmear - a Hot Pepper Parmesan Cream Cheese launching alongside the band's national tour, available nationwide August 17-26. The collab kicked off when Joe Jonas DM'd the PopUp Bagels account: “Burnin' up collab?" - which turned into a rich, savory parmesan schmear with just the right kick of heat paired with PopUp's signature hot, whole bagels. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, giveaways, and surprises all campaign long.

Tickets will be available starting with the Spotify Reserved presale in the US on Tuesday, August 18 at 8:28 am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning Friday, August 21 at 10am local time at ticketmaster.com.

Introducing Reserved, brought to you by Spotify. For the first time, eligible Spotify Premium top fans will have tickets to their favorite artist’s show set aside for them to purchase before they go on sale to the general public. Reserved is a Spotify Premium benefit that turns real fandom into first access. Visit ReservedbySpotify.com to learn more.

Jonas Brothers Reserved by Spotify tickets may be available to eligible US and Canada Spotify Premium subscribers through Ticketmaster. Eligible fans will be notified by Spotify via in-app, email, and push notifications, and will have the opportunity to purchase up to two tickets during the offer window.

The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include premium tickets, invitation to the pre-show Burnin’ Up VIP Lounge, specially designed VIP gift item, pre-show merch shopping & more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

Tour Dates:

Thu, Aug 20 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden- SOLD OUT
Fri, Aug 21 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden- SOLD OUT
Sat, Aug 22 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden - SOLD OUT
Fri, Sep 25 - Boston, MA - TD Garden*^
Sat, Sep 26 - Manchester, NH - SNHU Arena^
Mon, Sep 28 - Toronto, ON - RBC Amphitheatre^
Wed, Sep 30 - Washington, DC - Capital One Arena^
Thu, Oct 1 - Raleigh, NC - Lenovo Center^
Fri, Oct 2 - Philadelphia, PA - Xfinity Mobile Arena*^
Mon, Oct 5 - Miami, FL - Kaseya Center*^
Tue, Oct 6 - Orlando, FL - Kia Center*^
Thu, Oct 8 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena*^
Fri, Oct 9 - Birmingham, AL - Legacy Arena at the BJCC*^
Sun, Oct 11 - Tampa, FL - Benchmark International Arena*^
Tue, Oct 13 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center*^
Thu, Oct 15 - Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse*^
Fri, Oct 16 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena*^
Sat, Oct 17 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center*^
Mon, Oct 19 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Arena*^
Tue, Oct 20 - Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Center*^
Thu, Oct 22 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena*^
Sun, Oct 25 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena*^
Mon, Oct 26 - Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena*^
Sun, Nov 1 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum*^
Mon, Nov 2 - St. Paul, MN - Grand Casino Arena*^
Tue, Nov 3 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center+^
Thu, Nov 5 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena+^
Mon, Nov 9 - Oklahoma, OK - Paycom Center+^
Tue, Nov 10 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center+^
Fri, Nov 13 - Austin, TX - Moody Center+^
Sat, Nov 14 - San Antonio, TX - Frost Bank Center+^
Tue, Nov 17 - Palm Desert, CA - Acrisure Arena*^
Wed, Nov 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl#*^
Sat, Nov 21 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center*^
Sun, Nov 22 - Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center*^
Fri, Nov 27 - Glendale, AZ - Desert Diamond Arena*^
Sat, Nov 28 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena*^
Mon, Nov 30 - San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena*^
Wed, Dec 2 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center*^
Sat, Dec 5 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena*^
Mon, Dec 7 - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Center*^
Wed, Dec 9 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena*^
Thu, Dec 10 - Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena*^
Sat, Dec 12 - Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford PREMIER Center*^
Tue, Dec 15 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena*^
Sat, Dec 19 - Belmont Park, NY - UBS Arena*^
Mon, Dec 21 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center*^

With 
#All Time Low
*Magnus Ferrell
+Franklin Jonas
^Deleasa

Sheryl Crow news

Sheryl Crow's upcoming studio release, Pick You Up, is due October 9. It was written by Crow and long-time collaborator Jeff Trott and will be released via Old Green Barn Productions LLC. Pre-order, pre-add, and pre-save HERE.

The first single, “Freedom Bus,” featuring Jesse Welles, is now available on all major streaming platforms and digital retailers HERE. 

About “Freedom Bus,” Crow said, “I do not take freedom lightly because our freedom has been paid for in the lives of others throughout history and that is something I wish we could all remember when we are interacting with each other. Our dialogue and ability to disagree must reflect what has been paid for in the blood, sweat, and tears of those who fought for every man and woman to be created equal and to enjoy the rights that our constitution has allowed each of us.”

The forthcoming release delves into personal reflection while returning to the AAA/Rock/Singer-Songwriter/Americana sound that made Crow popular in the ‘90s. 

“Each of these songs are a commentary on being human and wanting connection,” Crow said. “There is a lot of chaos all around us and I definitely find myself feeling alone. My wish is that whoever hears these songs feels the hope I feel when I sing them! I hope these songs feel like a soothing moisturizer on our chapped hearts. We are all going through so much in our humanity right now that being awake can feel like trudging through a burning desert. But we are never alone. And there is beauty everywhere. We just have to keep our eyes open.”

The Pick You Up album artwork features “The Elephant Who Forgot The Ocean” by artist Tyson Grumm, whose surreal, imaginative paintings create a nostalgic world where each image tells a story that is only partially told, allowing viewers to bring their own perspective to complete the work. 

A longtime collector of Grumm’s work, Crow first discovered his paintings nearly 20 years ago and has long been drawn to their sense of wonder, playfulness and underlying melancholy. When she recently saw “The Elephant Who Forgot The Ocean” at an auction, she knew it was the image she wanted for Pick You Up. She reached out to Grumm, who agreed to let her use the piece as the album artwork, and she ultimately purchased the original, which now hangs in her home.

Crow will perform on Good Morning America on August 28.

Track List:

“Freight Train”
“Perfect”
“Pick You Up”
“Flat Earth”
“I’ve Got Your Number”
“Heaven Help Us”
“Freedom Bus” (feat. Jesse Welles)