This summer, George Michael’s 'Older' gets deluxe box set treatment

Originally released in May 1996 through Virgin Records, Older was George Michael’s third solo album. It reached No. 1 in the UK and remained for three consecutive weeks, spending 35 weeks in the UK top 10 overall.

The album produced six singles, two of which - Fastlove and Jesus To A Child - hit No.1, with the other four peaking in the top three in the UK. The album was a global commercial success, moving 1 million+ in the UK, and platinum in another 22 countries. 

Now a new deluxe limited edtion box set and other formats (2LP/CD/digital) celebrate the popular work on July 8. Pre-order HERE

The box set includes Older, newly mastered from original tapes and pressed on 180gsm vinyl across 2LPs for superior audio quality with expanded artwork. The set also includes Upper for the first time ever on vinyl, as well as Older and Upper on CD.

Presented in a rigid double slipcase, this package contains 5 CDs and 3 LPs. Also included is a 12” x 12” 48-page book, The Story of Older, featuring a new essay by Dan Davies, rare and previously unseen photos. The set also includes 3 12” x 12” art prints of George.

“I think I composed the best, most healing piece of music that I’ve written in my life with this album … Older is my greatest moment” – George Michael (at the time of release).

Track listing: 

OLDER VINYL

SIDE A

1. Jesus to a Child - 06:49

2. Fastlove, Pt. 1 - 05:27
3. Older - 05:32

SIDE B

4. Spinning the Wheel - 06:09
5. It Doesn't Really Matter - 04:49
6. The Strangest Thing - 06:00

SIDE C

7. To Be Forgiven - 05:21

8. Move On - 04:45

9. Star People - 05:15

SIDE D

10. You Have Been Loved - 05:27

11. Free - 02:59

UPPER VINYL

SIDE A

1. Fastlove, Pt. 2 - 04:54

2. Spinning The Wheel (Forthright Edit) - 04:41

3. Star People ‘97 (Radio Version) - 05:42

SIDE B

4. The Strangest Thing ’97 (Radio Version) - 04:41

5. You Know That I Want To - 04:37

6. Safe - 4:27

CD1 – OLDER

1. Jesus to a Child - 06:49
2. Fastlove, Pt. 1 - 05:27
3. Older - 05:32
4. Spinning the Wheel - 06:09
5. It Doesn't Really Matter - 04:49
6. The Strangest Thing - 06:00
7. To Be Forgiven - 05:21
8. Move On - 04:45
9. Star People - 05:15
10. You Have Been Loved - 05:27
11. Free - 02:59

CD2 – UPPER
1. Fastlove, Pt. 2 - 04:54
2. Spinning The Wheel (Forthright Edit) - 04:41
3. Star People ‘97 (Radio Version) - 05:42
4. The Strangest Thing ’97 (Radio Version) - 04:41
5. You Know That I Want To - 04:37
6. Safe - 4:27

CD3 – MIXES ONE
1. Fastlove (A/C Summer Mix) - 04:55
2. Star People ‘97 (Radio Edit) - 04:39 *
3. Freedom '94 (Live Version) - 06:06
4. One More Try (Live Gospel Version) - 5:26
5. Star People (Unplugged) - 06:04
6. Spinning The Wheel (Radio Edit) - 05:00
7. Fastlove (Promo Edit) - 04:43 *
8. Jesus To A Child (Special Radio Edit) - 04:20 *
9. Spinning The Wheel (Forthright Dub Mix) - 06:48 *
10. Star People (Forthright Club Mix) - 09:17

CD4 – MIXES TWO
1. Fastlove (Forthright Extended 12" Mix) - 09:23
2. Star People (Forthright Dub Mix) - 07:40
3. I'm Your Man (The Jon Douglas Remix) - 04:04
4. Fastlove Part II (Fully Extended Mix) - 09:36
5. Spinning The Wheel (Forthright Extended 12" Club Mix) - 08:36 *
6. Star People (Galaxy Dub Mix) - 07:11
7. Fastlove (Forthright Remix 7” Version) - 04:25 *
8. I Can't Make You Love Me (Studio Version) - 05:20

CD5 – MIXES THREE
1. Desafinado - George Michael with Astrud Gilberto - 03:19
2. The Strangest Thing (Live) - 06:00
3. Star People (Forthright Radio Edit) - 04:33 *
4. The Strangest Thing ‘97 (Loop Ratz Mix) - 08:49
5. Fastlove (Forthright Dub Remix) - 08:32 *
6. Jesus to a Child (Radio Edit) - 06:07 *
7. Spinning The Wheel (The Jon Douglas Remix) – 06:38 **
8. Star People (Galaxy Mix) – 08:09
9. Older (Instrumental Version) - 05.29

Cruel World Festival news: Bauhaus adds shows to tour

Recently, I posted here about "Drink the New Wine," the first new Bauhaus song in decades (see purchase link below). Now the influential goth rock band has added dates to its world tour which go on sale April 8 at 10:00 AM ET. 

BAUHAUS "Drink The New Wine"
Stream/Purchase: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bauhaus2/drink-the-new-wine

World tour dates:

**denotes new shows

May 14 - Cruel World Festival (Pasadena, CA) - Sold out

May 15 - Cruel World Festival (Pasadena, CA) -Ticket Link

May 17 - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (Portland,OR) - Ticket link

May 19 - Paramount Theatre (Seattle, WA) - Ticket link

May 21 - The Masonic (San Francisco, CA) - Ticket Link

May 22 - The Masonic (San Francisco, CA) - Ticket Link

May 25 - The Mission Ballroom (Denver, CO) - Ticket link

May 27 - The Marquee Theatre (Tempe, AZ) - Ticket link

June 4 - Primavera (Barcelona, ES) - Ticket link

June 6 - Alcatraz (Milan, IT) ** Ticket link

June 8 - Release Festival (Athens, GR) - Ticket link

August 4 - W Festival (Oostend, BE) - Ticket link

August 22 - Zitadelle Spandau (Berlin, DE) ** Ticket link

August 28 - EDP Vilar de Mouros (Vilar de Mouros, PT) - Ticket link

Sept. 6 - History (Toronto, ON) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 8 - Kings Theatre (New York, NY) - Ticket link

NOTE: Tickets purchased for postponed Nov. 2, 2021 show will be honored.

Sept. 9 - Kings Theatre (New York, NY) - Ticket link
NOTE: Tickets purchased for postponed Nov. 3, 2021 show will be honored.

Sept. 10 - The Met (Philadelphia, PA) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 12 - Anthem (Washington, DC) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 13 - MGM Music Hall (Boston, MA) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 14 - College Street Music Hall (New Haven, CT) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 16 - Masonic Theater (Detroit, MI) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 18 - Palace Theatre (Minneapolis, MN) ** Ticket link

Sept. 20 - Southside Ballroom (Dallas, TX) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 21 - 713 Music Hall (Houston, TX) ** - Ticket link

Sept. 23 - Tabernacle (Atlanta, GA) ** - Ticket link

Photo by Gary Bandfield, courtesy Reybee PR

Michael Franti's next album 'Follow Your Heart' due in June

Michael Franti's upcoming album Follow Your Heart is set for release June 3 via Thirty Tigers. Pre-order/pre-save the album HERE.

“One thing I learned these last couple of years is that people need people,” shares Franti.

“I wrote many songs about connection, resilience and finding the light, even in the midst of all the crazy. Somewhere in there we find resilience, and I hope 'Follow Your Heart' gives fans the courage to continue looking for and holding onto that perseverance.”

The group just released new song “Brighter Day.” It follows lead single “Good Day For A Good Day,” which marked the band’s 10th Top 25 AAA hit. Joining “Good Day LA” to chat about and perform the song live in-studio, Franti shared that the song is “speaking to the fact that sometimes we have to retune our minds to feel like we can have a good day, because we’re not always going to get one. Not every day is perfect, but we can retune our minds to find those good days and good moments.”

Franti & Spearhead are preparing to tour across North America this summer with dates starting in May. Tickets are on sale now at MichaelFranti.com, with the option to upgrade to VIP for many of the dates.

Franti launched a virtual event in June 2020 with his Stay At Home Concert World Tour, a creation prompted by his first summer in 33 years in which he wasn’t on the road due to the global pandemic, performing for over 50,000 fans worldwide with seven uniquely themed virtual livestreams.

To better connect with his Soulrocker fan community, Franti developed a dual-screen model, allowing fans to join a “Backstage Zoom Party Room” and interact directly with one another. Franti is set to host his Brighter Day Livestream on Friday, April 22 at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

Work Hard And Be Nice, Franti & Spearhead’s 11th studio album, was released in 2020, which included lead single “I Got You,” the band’s first Billboard No. 1 in nearly 10 years.

Track Listing:

Follow Your Heart

Better
Baby Let Your Soulshine
Brighter Day
Life Is Amazing
No Makeup
Good Day For A Good Day
Best At Loving You
People Need People
Trying To Keep The Lights On
Life Reminds Us We’re Alive

Tour Dates:

May 13 Cherokee Music Festival Cherokee, Texas
May 14 BeachLife Festival Redondo Beach, Calif.
May 14 The Venice West (BeachLife Afterparty) Venice, Calif.
May 19 Brooklyn Bowl+# Las Vegas, Nev.
May 20 Harrah’s Lake Tahoe South Shore Room+# Stateline, Nev.
May 21 The Center for the Arts+ Grass Valley, Calif.
May 29 BottleRock Napa, Calif.
June 1 Belly Up Aspen+* Aspen, Colo.
June 2 The Fox Theatre+ Boulder, Colo.
June 3 Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater+* Vail, Colo.
June 4 Red Rocks Amphitheatre+ Morrison, Colo.
June 19 Levitt Pavilion* Westport, Conn.
June 22 Seacrets+* Ocean City, Md.
June 23 Seacrets+* Ocean City, Md
June 24 Greenfield Lake Amphitheater+^ Wilmington, N.C.
June 25 Greenfield Lake Amphitheater+^ Wilmington, N.C.
June 26 Salvage Station+^ Asheville, N.C.
June 28 Oceanfront Concert Series (Free Show)^ Virginia Beach, Va.
June 30 Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center~ Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
July 1 Snow Pond Center for the Arts+~ Sidney, Maine
July 2 Indian Ranch+~ Webster, Mass.
July 3 SummerStage in Central Park+~ New York, N.Y.
July 7 Summerfest Milwaukee, Wis.
July 8 Rock The Ruins+~ Indianapolis, Ind.
July 9 Ravinia Festival+~ Highland Park, Ill.
July 10 Wonderstruck in Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio
July 12 RBC Ottawa BluesFest Ottawa, Ont.
July 13 The Danforth Music Hall+ Toronto, Ont.
July 14 Venue TBA+ Grand Rapids, Mich.
July 15 Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua+* Bayfield, Wis.
July 19 Venue TBA+^ Salt Lake City, Utah
July 21 McMenamins Edgefield+^ Troutdale, Ore.
July 22 Chateau Ste Michelle+^ Woodinville, Wash.
July 23 Athletic Club of Bend+^ Bend, Ore.
July 24 Britt Pavilion+^ Jacksonville, Ore.
July 27 The Crest Theatre+^ Sacramento, Calif.
July 28 The Mountain Winery+^ Saratoga, Calif.
July 29 House of Blues+* Anaheim, Calif.
July 30 Venue TBA+* Los Angeles, Calif.
July 31 Humphrey’s Concerts by the bay+* San Diego, Calif.
Aug. 2 The Rialto Theatre^ Tucson, Ariz.
Aug. 4 Pepsi Amphitheater+^ Flagstaff, Ariz.
Aug. 5 Fort Marcy Park+^ Santa Fe, N.M.
Aug. 7 I Bar Ranch+ Gunnison, Colo.

+VIP Experience Offered
# Of Good Nature as support
* Tropidelic as support
^ The New Respects as support
~ Arrested Development as support

A popular 1985 Prince and The Revolution concert recording has been totally spruced up and set for June release

On March 30, 1985, Prince and The Revolution's Purple Rain Tour stopped at Syracuse, New York’s Carrier Dome. The show was beamed to millions live via satellite and captured for posterity in the Grammy Award-nominated concert film Prince and The Revolution: Live. 

For the first time, this performance has been entirely enhanced and reconstructed: the original video source was rescanned, restored and color-corrected; and the original multitrack audio master reels have been remixed and remastered onto Blu-ray video with selectable stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos sound.

Prince’s late-career and Grammy-nominated recording engineer, Chris James, remixed the recently discovered source audio, which had remained archived in Prince’s Paisley Park vault for over three decades. The new release of Prince and The Revolution: Live will be available June 3, and marks the first time that the concert will be available on vinyl (as a 3-LP set) and on CD (as a 2-CD/Blu-ray set).

In conjunction with the physical formats, Prince and The Revolution: Live is also the first Prince release to be made available to supporting digital streaming platforms in spatial audio, as it will be delivered in Dolby Atmos. 

The first preview track, show opener “Let’s Go Crazy,” was just made available. Pre-order Prince and The Revolution: Live and hear “Let’s Go Crazy”: https://Prince.lnk.to/Live1985PR

Experience the restored picture and watch Prince and The Revolution performing “Let’s Go Crazy” on Prince’s official YouTube channel: https://Prince.lnk.to/LetsGoCrazyLivePR

Additionally, a limited run Collector's Edition of the performance will be available exclusively from the official Prince Store. Housed in a luxe foil box, the set includes the remixed and remastered audio pressed onto 3 colored LPs (purple, red and gold vinyl), 2 CDs, the Blu-ray video, an expansive 44-page book complete with never-before-seen photos of the Purple Rain Tour, new liner notes highlighting stories and memories from all five members of The Revolution, and a 24 x 36 poster. The Collector’s Edition was designed by Grammy-nominated artist Mathieu Bitton and Grammy-nominated creative director and Prince associate Trevor Guy.

“Listening back to that Syracuse show, I’m like, wow, we sound like a freight train just coming out of nowhere,” says The Revolution’s BrownMark. “That was powerful. I’ve been to a lot of concerts, and I’ve never seen anything like that.”

In other Prince news, Chicago will glow purple this summer when Prince: The Immersive Experience makes its worldwide debut on June 9. Presented by Superfly in partnership with The Prince Estate, attendees will be invited to immerse themselves fully in the music and life of Prince. Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 31 at 10 a.m. CT exclusively at PrinceTheExperience.com.

CD/Blu-ray track list:

CD 1

Let's Go Crazy
Delirious
1999
Little Red Corvette
Take Me With U
Yankee Doodle
Do Me, Baby
Irresistible Bitch
Possessed
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore
Let's Pretend We're Married
International Lover
God
Computer Blue

CD 2

Darling Nikki
The Beautiful Ones
When Doves Cry
I Would Die 4 U
Baby, I'm a Star
Purple Rain

Blu-ray (region free)

Let’s Go Crazy
Delirious
1999
Little Red Corvette
Take Me With U
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Do Me, Baby
Irresistible Bitch
Possessed
How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore
Let’s Pretend We’re Married
International Lover
God
Computer Blue
Darling Nikki
The Beautiful Ones
When Doves Cry
I Would Die 4 U
Baby I’m A Star
Purple Rain

ABBA news

To coincide with the opening of ABBA Voyage, the mega concert experience at the ABBA Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London opening on May 27, POLAR/Universal Music announce a series of releases to celebrate the occasion. 

Last year, Voyage, the first new ABBA album in 40 years, was met with much fanfare and success. It topped the charts in 18 countries worldwide and became the group’s highest ever placing in the US at No 2.

Now a new 10 LP Box Set, pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl, and 10-CD Box Set - both out May 27 - offer the opportunity to enjoy Voyage alongside the previous eight releases (Ring Ring, Waterloo, ABBA, Arrival, The Album, Voulez-Vous, Super Trouper and The Visitors). Then there is ABBA Tracks, which features non-album singles such as "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)," "Fernando" and other B-sides.

A 40-page booklet in the 10 CD Box Set features album information and ABBA photographs from throughout their career. Pre-Order here – https://abba.lnk.to/10LP10CDBoxsets

The release of ABBA’s Studio Album Picture Discs reunites all of ABBA’s studio albums on a special format (Ring Ring, Waterloo, ABBA, Arrival, The Album, Voulez-Vous, Super Trouper and The Visitors). Strictly limited edition, the collection is available as a discounted 8 LP bundle, and 9 LP bundle (inc. Voyage) for a limited time only. The albums are all released on June 10. Pre-Order here – https://abba.lnk.to/PictureDiscBundle

To celebrate all things ABBA, a new series of 20 lyric videos was launched beginning with "Chiquitita" (http://abba.lnk.to/Chiquitita-Lyric-Video)

ABBA "Chiquitita": https://youtu.be/p9Y3N_2xUsw

The series will include all tracks on ABBA Gold, plus "Happy New Year," and will be released over the next 12 months. Look out for the next release, "Waterloo," on April 6, which coincides with the 48th anniversary of ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

VOYAGE LONDON SHOW

The countdown is well underway. The concerts begin at ABBA Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London opening on May 27. For more information go to https://abbavoyage.com/

The Sex Pistols: The Original Recordings drops in May

I'm looking forward to the upcoming biopic based on guitarist Steve Jones' memoir that this album ties into...

For the first time in over 20 years, 20 of the Sex Pistol’s recordings from 1976 to 1978 are collected together. 

The Sex Pistols: The Original Recordings drops May 27 via UMe. It covers a period when the band were rarely out of the news or the charts and will be available on double vinyl, digital and CD, as well as limited edition double transparent green vinyl and collectors’ cassettes. All configurations of The Sex Pistols: The Original Recordings can be pre-ordered, HERE.

The Sex Pistols made one 40-minute album for the ages in 1977’s Never Mind The Bollocks and from its artwork to the individual players, the attitude and music - every bit of it influenced the world we live in today.

The record is frequently listed as one of the most influential albums of all time with musicians from Joy Division / New Order to Kurt Cobain, Noel Gallagher, Green Day, to YUNGBLUD all citing them as key inspiration. 

Their 1977 single “God Save the Queen” was banned by the BBC and reached Number 1 on the U.K.'s NME chart, but appeared at Number 2 on the Official U.K. Singles chart, leading to accusations that the song was purposely kept off the top spot. For the only time in chart history, the track was listed as a blank, to avoid offence to the establishment.

This collection soundtracks the period and features key singles “Anarchy In The UK,” “God Save The Queen,” “Pretty Vacant” and “Holidays In The Sun,” essential tracks from Never Mind The Bollocks, further originals and covers from The Great Rock & Roll Swindle soundtrack album and some essential B- sides in “I Wanna Be Me” (the flipside of “Anarchy…”), “Satellite” (the B-side of “Holidays In The Sun”) and “Did You No Wrong” (from “God Save The Queen”).

Track listing:

1. Pretty Vacant
2. God Save The Queen
3. Bodies
4. No Feelings
5. I Wanna Be Me
6. Anarchy In The UK
7. Submission
8. No Fun
9. (I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone
10. Holidays In The Sun
11. New York
12. Problems
13. Lonely Boy
14. Silly Thing
15. Something Else
16. C’Mon Everybody
17. Satellite
18. Did You No Wrong
19. Substitute
20. My Way

Formats:

CD
2LP (Black vinyl)
2LP (Transparent Green)
Cassette - 5 with individual artwork
Digital

A new Darlene Love compilation including rare cuts arrives in May

Due out on May 6 via Real Gone Music, Darlene Love's The Many Sides of Love —The Complete Reprise Recordings, Plus" is a new collection that captures the legendary R&B/rock vocalist's rare singles for the Reprise label with the vocal groups The Blossoms and Wildcats, her own solo work and bonus tracks.

Covering 50 years of her work outside that of the Phil Spector sides, these tracks were newly remastered by Mike Milchner at Sonic Vision. Among the bonus tracks are Love's 1985 Elektra recording of "River Deep, Mountain High," her 2014 duet with Bette Midler on "He's Sure the Boy I Love," and two 1990 recordings for the Sire label. Almost none of the early material has ever been on CD here in the States, and this release comes with photos and extensive liner notes by Joe Marchese of The Second Disc. 

Track listing:

1. TV COMMERCIALS – Barney Kessel

2. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO IN ’64? – The Wildcats
3. 3625 GROOVY STREET – The Wildcats
4. THAT’S WHEN THE TEARS START – The Blossoms

5. GOOD, GOOD LOVIN’ – The Blossoms
6. MY LOVE, COME HOME – The Blossoms
7. LOVER BOY – The Blossoms
8. LET YOUR LOVE SHINE ON ME – The Blossoms
9. DEEP INTO MY HEART – The Blossoms
10. TOO LATE TO SAY YOU’RE SORRY – Darlene Love
11. IF – Darlene Love
12. RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH – Darlene Love
13. MR. FIX-IT (from Dick Tracy) – Darlene Love
14. HE’S SURE THE BOY I LOVE – Bette Midler & Darlene Love
15. MR. FIX-IT (1930s Version) (from Dick Tracy) – Darlene Love