A sneak peak from Boy George of the upcoming Culture Club album – first new set of music to be released in America from the group in 26 years.
Another tease can be found here.
New Music: Culture Club “Like I Used To”
BBC Releases All-Star Version of Beach Boys “God Only Knows”
An all-star version of Brian Wilson’s hit song “God Only Knows” has been recorded and released by the BBC to mark the launch of BBC Music, which is described as “an ambitious wave of new programmes, innovative partnerships and ground-breaking music initiatives that amount to the BBC’s strongest commitment to music in 30 years”.
Among the artists taking part in the recording are Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Lorde and Florence Welch.
The song will be released as a single to raise money for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal.
New Music: Aretha Franklin Covers “Rolling In The Deep”
Aretha Franklin will release an album Oct. 21 covering classic songs from other female singers.
The first single from Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics is a fantastic version of Adele’s hit “Rolling In the Deep,” which also throws in a little mashup surprise chorus from another famous diva.
The single hits all major digital download outlets tonight. And make sure to catch the Queen of Soul singing the track on David Letterman tonight.
The rest of the collection looks like:
• Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia”
• Barbra Streisand’s “People”
• Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman”
• The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”
• Alicia Keys’ “No One”
• Dinah Washington’s “Teach Me Tonight”
• Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” (with a touch of Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor”)
• Etta James’ “At Last”
• Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”
Take a listen to “Rolling In The Deep” below and check out the pre-order on Amazon here.
New Music: Kazaky feat. The Hardkiss “Strange Moves”
Ukrainian “boy band in heels” Kazaky offers this collaboration with The Hardkiss to start your week, “Strange Moves.”
Barbra Streisand’s “Partners” Debuts at #1 on Billboard 200
Barbra Streisand’s new album of duets, Partners, debuts at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart, selling close to 200,000 copies.
In doing so, Streisand becomes the only recording artist with No. 1 albums in each of the last six decades.
Babs posted this to her Facebook page:
Hearing the news that “Partners” entered the charts at #1 was an overwhelming feeling of joy!!
Being told that I’ve had #1 albums in six consecutive decades makes me feel truly blessed and grateful to have such loyal fans. I feel you rooting for me and I so appreciate all of your energy and support.
It’s especially sweet since I get to share this moment with my wonderfully talented partners who I had the pleasure of singing with: Michael Bublé, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Babyface, Billy Joel, Blake Shelton, Lionel Richie, Andrea Bocelli, John Legend, Josh Groban, my beloved son Jason Gould…and last but not least, Elvis Presley…forever The King!
Finally, thank you to Rob Stringer and my Columbia Records family, my manager Marty Erlichman, my creative team on this project – Kenny Edmonds, Walter Afanasieff, Dave Reitzas, Bill Ross, and Jay Landers…and Ken Sunshine for getting the word out… we did it guys!!
The debut is also the largest first week sales total for a female artist in 2014.
La Streisand’s last album to sell more in a week was Higher Ground, which moved 402,000 in the week ending Dec. 28, 1997.
Barbra’s first #1 album was People, which hit the top in October 1964.
New Music: Ricky Martin “Adiós”
Take a listen to Ricky Martin‘s new single, “Adiós,” to be released tomorrow on all digital platforms.
(Although, to be honest, when you have a promo pic this good, I almost don’t need to listen. Just let me stare for a while. Geez, he’s good-looking….)
“We chose “Adiós” because it represents who I am today. The title is a reference to the opening of another cycle,” Ricky Martin said of the first single off his anticipated new album, scheduled to be released at the beginning of next year by Sony Music Latin.
A week after the release of “Adiós”, Martin will kick off a concert series called “Live In Mexico” with two consecutive concerts at the Palacio De Los Deportes in Mexico City on October 3 and 4. The tour will continue on to Mexico’s main cities including: Guadalajara, Monterrey, Ciudad del Carmen, Puebla, Morelia, among others.
For more about Ricky hit up the official website at rickymartinmusic.com
Sunday Song: Billy Joel “Summer, Highland Falls”
Billy Joel has shared in interviews that this is his favorite song he ever wrote.
Although never a big hit of his, it’s my favorite Billy Joel song.
Music Video: Annie Lennox “I Put A Spell On You”
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| Annie Lennox sings “I Put A Spell On You” from her upcoming CD Nostalgia |
Annie Lennox sings ‘I Put A Spell On You’ from Nostalgia from her upcoming album Nostalgia.
Earthy, rich and authentic. Lennox is in fantastic form here.
Release date – October 21st in the US.
Check it out on Amazon and iTunes.
New Music: Betty Buckley “Ghostlight”
Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley’s fantastic new album, Ghostlight, is available today at all major music outlets. The project reunites Buckley with longtime friend and legendary producer T Bone Burnett.
“T Bone single-handedly changed the world of music and makes each project more perfect than the last,” said Buckley, who first worked with the producer when they were both 19 in Fort Worth, TX, in an earlier statement. “The gift of this project is beyond my ability to even express; it is my dream record.”
“All great art comes from the edge, not a place of comfort,” added Burnett. “Our vision was for a ghostly haunting sound, which I called ‘crime jazz,’ giving the project a timeless feel.”
I’ve been listening to an advance copy and the entire project is sheer art. One of the hallmarks of the project is Buckley’s restraint in utilizing the power of her evocative instrument. Like holding back a stallion from full gallop, you can constantly feel the power underneath.
The ‘crime jazz’ element T Bone references is abundantly on display with my favorite track, “Lazy Afternoon,” which ebbs and flows from haunting lilt into an ambient, psychedelic meditation. The creative and emotional edge here catch me and never let go.
Songs featured on the album follow:
1. Come To Me Bend To Me
2. If You Go Away
3. Blue Skies
4. Throw It Away
5. Lazy Afternoon
6. Bewitched
7. This Nearly Was Mine
8. Body And Soul
9. Comin Back To Me
10. Dreamsville
11. Take It With Me When I Go
12. Where Time Stands Still
The title of the recording, according to press notes, comes from “the tradition in the theatre where, after the performance in the dark theatre, a lone light bulb is left on at night to keep the ghosts company. This light is called a ghost light.”
Trust and believe, the spirits of Ghostlight keep excellent company in the presence of Buckley’s artistry.
Click here for more info on the Limited Edition Vinyl & CD Art Box set.
For more information visit Betty’s official website.
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| T Bone Burnett and Betty Buckley – photo by: Myriam Santos |
Music: Listening Party for Annie Lennox “Nostalgia”
One of the most successful, talented and creatively engaging artists in pop music history – and one of my personal musical idols – Annie Lennox, will release her 7th solo album Nostalgia on October 21st.
Nostalgia is a collection of the iconic singer’s impassioned takes on standards primarily from the 1930s and 1940s, many of them popularized by the likes of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Jo Stafford and Louis Armstrong.
Nostalgia is the result of hours Lennox spent perusing vintage recordings and video performances of songs from the Great American Songbook, particularly those rooted in the blues.
“I was just curious,” says the singer/songwriter. “I thought, ‘I wonder what my voice would be like. Would these songs suit my voice?’ It was like a little challenge. I just sort of got to know them, became friends with them really and had a great deal of joy in the process.”
In choosing the songs for the new album, Lennox had this to say: “I think your values change and shift. I’m a woman and I’m getting older but I want to still make music. I don’t want to twerk, but I want to be relevant.”
Produced by long-time collaborator Mike Stevens and recorded in his West London studio, Lennox explores levels of depth and warmth in songs that primarily originated from the civil-rights era.
Nostalgia will be released by Blue Note Recordings in the US. “To have been given the opportunity to record these classic, timeless songs on such a significant label as Blue Note, representing 75 years of legendary jazz history, is truly a privilege for me,” said Annie Lennox.
The album will be available digitally, on CD and in a deluxe CD/DVD edition on October 21. The deluxe CD/DVD package, which will be available exclusively at Amazon, will include Nostalgia plus a 36-page book with photos and detailed notes on the songs and lyrics as well as a DVD that features Annie discussing the album and a video of Lennox performing “I Put A Spell On You” live.
You can also pre-order today on iTunes and download the first single “I Put A Spell On You” today.
Nostalgia – Track Listing:
1. Memphis In June
2. Georgia On My Mind
3. I Put A Spell On You
4. Summertime
5. I Cover The Waterfront
6. Strange Fruit
7. God Bless The Child
8. You Belong To Me
9. September In The Rain
10. I Can Dream, Can’t I?
11. The Nearness Of You
12. Mood Indigo