Photo Session, 1965, © Apple Corps Ltd, 2009

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated The Beatles: Rock Band video game.

Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, © Apple Corps Ltd, 2009

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Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

Photo Session, 1962, © Apple Corps Ltd, 2009

The albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.

The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the UK, and ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ which became part of The Beatles’ core catalogue when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections ‘Past Masters Vol. I and II’ are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.

Within each CD’s new packaging, booklets include detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. With the exception of the ‘Past Masters’ set, newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on each album. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere.

A second boxed set has been created with the collector in mind. ‘The Beatles in Mono’ gathers together, in one place, all of the Beatles recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono masters (covering similar ground to the stereo tracks on ‘Past Masters’). As an added bonus, the mono “Help!” and “Rubber Soul” discs also include the original 1965 stereo mixes, which have not been previously released on CD. These albums will be packaged in mini-vinyl CD replicas of the original sleeves with all original inserts and label designs retained.

For the latest news and information, go to:

The Beatles Official Website

Additional information:

The Stereo Albums (available individually and collected in a stereo boxed set)
The stereo albums have been remastered by Guy Massey, Steve Rooke, Sam Okell with Paul Hicks and Sean Magee
All CD packages contain original vinyl artwork and liner notes
Extensive archival photos
Additional historical notes by Kevin Howlett and Mike Heatley
Additional recording notes by Allan Rouse and Kevin Howlett
* = CD includes QuickTime mini-doc about the album
Please Please Me* (CD debut in stereo)
With The Beatles* (CD debut in stereo)
A Hard Day’s Night* (CD debut in stereo)
Beatles For Sale* (CD debut in stereo)
Help!*
Rubber Soul*
Revolver*
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band* (also includes 1987 notes, updated, and new intro by Paul McCartney)
Magical Mystery Tour*
The Beatles*
Yellow Submarine* (also includes original US liner notes)
Abbey Road*
Let It Be*
Past Masters (contains new liner notes written by Kevin Howlett)

‘The Beatles in Mono’ (boxed set only)
The mono albums have been remastered by Paul Hicks, Sean Magee with Guy Massey and Steve Rooke
Presented together in box with an essay written by Kevin Howlett
+ = mono mix CD debut
Please Please Me
With The Beatles
A Hard Day’s Night
Beatles For Sale
Help! (CD also includes original 1965 stereo mix)+
Rubber Soul (CD also include original 1965 stereo mix)+
Revolver+
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band+
Magical Mystery Tour+
The Beatles+
Mono Masters

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Re-mastering the Beatles catalogue

The re-mastering process commenced with an extensive period conducting tests before finally copying the analogue master tapes into the digital medium. When this was completed, the transfer was achieved using a Pro Tools workstation operating at 24 bit 192 kHz resolution via a Prism A-D converter. Transferring was a lengthy procedure done a track at a time. Although EMI tape does not suffer the oxide loss associated with some later analogue tapes, there was nevertheless a slight build up of dust, which was removed from the tape machine heads between each title.

From the onset, considerable thought was given to what audio restorative processes were going to be allowed. It was agreed that electrical clicks, microphone vocal pops, excessive sibilance and bad edits should be improved where possible, so long as it didn’t impact on the original integrity of the songs.

In addition, de-noising technology, which is often associated with re-mastering, was to be used, but subtly and sparingly. Eventually, less than five of the 525 minutes of Beatles music was subjected to this process. Finally, as is common with today’s music, overall limiting – to increase the volume level of the CD – has been used, but on the stereo versions only. However, it was unanimously agreed that because of the importance of The Beatles’ music, limiting would be used moderately, so as to retain the original dynamics of the recordings.

When all of the albums had been transferred, each song was then listened to several times to locate any of the agreed imperfections. These were then addressed by Guy Massey, working with Audio Restoration engineer Simon Gibson.

Mastering could now take place, once the earliest vinyl pressings, along with the existing CDs, were loaded into Pro Tools, thus allowing comparisons to be made with the original master tapes during the equalization process. When an album had been completed, it was auditioned the next day in studio three – a room familiar to the engineers, as all of the recent Beatles mixing projects had taken place in there – and any further alteration of EQ could be addressed back in the mastering room. Following the initial satisfaction of Guy and Steve, Allan Rouse and Mike Heatley then checked each new re-master in yet another location and offered any further suggestions. This continued until all 13 albums were completed to the team’s satisfaction.

New Notes/Documentaries Team

Kevin Howlett (Historical and Recording Notes)
Kevin Howlett’s career as an award-winning radio producer spans three decades. His music programmes for the BBC have included many documentaries about The Beatles, including ‘The Beeb’s Lost Beatles Tapes.’ He received a Grammy nomination for his involvement with The Beatles’ album ‘Live At The BBC’ and, in 2003, produced the ‘Fly On The Wall’ bonus disc for ‘Let It Be… Naked.’

Mike Heatley (Historical Notes)
Mike entered the music business via HMV Record Stores in 1970, transferring to EMI Records’ International Division three years later. He eventually headed up that division in the early Eighties before joining the company’s newly created Strategic Marketing Division in 1984. In 1988, he returned to International, where he undertook a number of catalogue marketing roles until he retired in December 2008.

During his career he worked with many of EMI’s major artists, including Pink Floyd, Queen, Kate Bush and Iron Maiden. However, during the last 30 years he has formed a particularly strong relationship with Apple, and has been closely involved in the origination and promotion of the Beatles catalogue, besides solo releases from John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Bob Smeaton (Director, Mini-Documentaries)
Bob Smeaton was series director and writer on the Grammy award winning ‘Beatles Anthology’ TV series which aired in the UK and the USA in 1995. In 1998 he received his second Grammy for his ‘Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsys’ documentary. In 2004 he gained his first feature film credit, as director on the feature documentary ‘Festival Express.’ He subsequently went on to direct documentaries on many of the world’s biggest music acts including The Who, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Elton John, Nirvana and the Spice Girls.

Julian Caiden (Editor, Mini-Documentaries)
Julian has worked with Bob Smeaton on numerous music documentaries including ‘Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsys’ and the ‘Classic Albums’ series, featuring The Who, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Elton John and Nirvana among others. He has worked on documentary profiles from Richard Pryor to Dr. John to Sir Ian McKellen, Herbie Hancock and Damien Hirst and on live music shows including the New York Dolls and Club Tropicana.

The Abbey Road Team

Allan Rouse (Project Coordinator)
Allan joined EMI straight from school in 1971 at their Manchester Square head office, working as an assistant engineer in the demo studio. During this time he frequently worked with Norman (Hurricane) Smith, The Beatles’ first recording engineer.

In 1991, he had his first involvement with The Beatles, copy­ing all of their master tapes (mono, stereo, 4-track and 8-track) to digital tape as a safety backup. This was followed by four years working with Sir George Martin as assistant and project coordinator on the TV documentary ‘The Making of Sgt. Pepper’s’ and the CDs ‘Live at the BBC’ and ‘The Anthol­ogy.’

In 1997, MGM/UA were preparing to reissue the film ‘Yellow Submarine’ and, with the permission of Apple, asked that all of The Beatles’ music be mixed for the film in 5.1 surround and stereo. Allan requested the services of Abbey Road’s senior engineer Peter Cobbin and assistant Guy Massey and, along with them, produced the new mixes.

Two years later, he proposed an experimental stereo and surround mix of John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ engineered by Peter Cobbin. Following lengthy consultations with Yoko Ono, the album ‘Imagine’ was re-mixed in stereo and the Grammy award-winning film ‘Gimme Some Truth’ in surround and new stereo. This led to a further five of John’s albums being re-mastered with new stereo mixes and the DVD release of ‘Lennon Legend’ being re-mixed in 5.1 surround and new stereo.

Further projects followed, including The Beatles ‘Anthol­ogy’, ‘The First US Visit’ and ‘Help’ DVD and the albums ‘Let It Be…Naked’ and ‘Love’ along with George Harrison’s ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ DVD and album.

For a number of years now, Allan has worked exclusively on Beatles and related projects.

Guy Massey (Recording Engineer)
Guy joined Abbey Road in 1994, and five years later assisted on the surround remix for The Beatles film ‘Yellow Submarine.’ This led to The Beatles’ ‘Anthology’ DVD and later, along with Paul Hicks and Allan Rouse, they mixed and produced ‘Let It Be… Naked.’ In 2004 he left the studios to become freelance and has engineered The Divine Comedy: ‘Victory for the Comic Muse,’ Air Traffic: ‘Fractured Life,’ James Dean Bradfield: ‘The Great Western’ and Stephen Fretwell’s ‘Magpie,’ co-producing the last two. Since leaving, Guy is still a vital member of the team, and has been the senior engineer for the re-mastering project and was responsible for surround and new stereo mixes for the DVD release of ‘Help!’

Steve Rooke (Mastering Engineer)
Steve joined Abbey Road in 1983 and is now the studio’s senior mastering engineer. He has been involved on all The Beatles’ projects since 1999. He has also been responsible for mastering releases by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Paul Hicks (Recording Engineer)
Paul started at Abbey Road in 1994, and his first involvement with The Beatles was assisting engineer Geoff Emerick on the Anthology albums. This was followed by ‘Yellow Submarine Songtrack,’ ‘Anthology’ DVD and ‘Let It Be… Naked.’ Like Guy Massey, he has also become a freelance engineer and since leaving the studios he has been responsible for the surround mixing of Paul McCartney’s DVD ‘The McCartney Years’ and The Beatles’ ‘Love.’ Paul has been in charge of the mono re-masters.

Sean Magee (Mastering Engineer)
Sean began working at Abbey Road in 1995 with a diploma in sound engineering. With a wealth of knowledge in analog and digital mastering, he has worked alongside Paul Hicks on the mono re-masters.

Sam Okell (Recording Engineer)
Sam’s first job as a member of the team was in 2006, assisting Paul Hicks on Paul McCartney’s DVD ‘The McCartney Years,’ and during that same year he was responsible for the re-mastering of George Harrison’s ‘Living In The Material World’ CD along with Steve Rooke. This led to him restoring the soundtrack to the Beatles film ‘Help!’ in surround and stereo, in addition to assisting Guy Massey with the song remixes.

Sam has re-mastered ‘With The Beatles’ and ‘Let It Be.’

Simon Gibson (Audio Restoration Engineer)
Simon joined Abbey Road in 1990. He has progressed from mastering mostly classical recordings to include a much wider range of music, including pop and rock, with his specialized role as an audio restoration engineer. Apart from the re-mastering project, his other work includes George Harrison’s ‘Living In The Material World,’ John Lennon’s ‘Lennon Legend,’ The Beatles’ ‘Love’ and the ‘Help!’ DVD soundtrack.

Johnny Cash, the Man in Black (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003). Happy birthday, Johnny.

Sony BMG is set to release ‘Johnny Cash Live At Osteraker Prison’ on 3rd March 2008 in the UK.

After 35 Years, this legendary concert can now be owned on CD – featuring 12 bonus tracks not featured on the original LP.

This rediscovered gem is now available to buy on CD. The lost prison album has been resurrected which is bound to delight fans of Johnny Cash ‘Live From San Quentin’ and ‘Live From Folsom Prison’. ‘Johnny Cash Live At Osteraker Prison’ has been expanded with new liner notes and remastered with 12 bonus tracks. The album shot into the top 30 when it was released in Sweden. In fact, the liner notes are written by Borje Lundberg – co-author of Hello, Sweden! I’m Johnny Cash.

This electrifying concert recording includes a raucous instrumental version of “I Walk The Line” as well as other classics such as “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Me & Bobby McGee”, “San Quentin” and “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins.

Johnny Cash opened with “A Boy Named Sue” for a fully-seated auditorium and for the next hour continued with some of his biggest hits and fan favorites. To commemorate the day, Johnny had learned a few Swedish words: “Thank you my friends, I hope you like our music.”

He was a passionate man, but the country star was particularly interested with the downtrodden. Prisoners. Though playing shows in prisons was not unusual to Johnny (San Quentin, Folsom State Prison) – he had never performed at a prison outside the U.S.A. when he took the stage at 1:10 p.m. on October 3, 1972 at Osteraker Prison north of Stockholm, Sweden.

One of the last great Johnny Cash albums to finally see a release on CD, this truly is a must-have for all fans of the man who walked the line

‘Johnny Cash Live At Osteraker Prison’ track listing:

1. I Walk The Line (instrumental) *
2. A Boy Named Sue *
3. Sunday Morning Coming Down *
4. Osteraker [San Quentin]
5. Me and Bobby McGee
6. Orleans Parish Prison
7. Jacob Green
8. Life Of A Prisoner
9. The Prisoners Song
10. Folsom Prison Blues
11. City Jail
12. Help Me Make it Though the Night
13. That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine
14. The Invertebraes
15. Lookin’ Back in Anger
16. I Saw a Man
17. High Heel Sneakers (Carl Perkins) *
18. Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins) *
19. Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog
20. Wreck of The Old 97
21. I Promise You *
22. Nobody Cared
23. San Quentin *
24. Folsom Prison Blues (instrumental) *

* Not on the original LP. Previously unreleased.

Original album released by Columbia Records in 1973.

Original recordings produced by Larry Butler & Charlie Bragg

Pa Osteraker: Live at Osteraker Prison, Sweden 3; 35th Anniversary Edition on amazon.co.uk

Pa Osteraker on amazon.com

Johnny Cash on Myspace
Johnny Cash Official Website

Mike Oldfield has always been famed for his unconventional approach to music. Throughout his career he has consistently broken musical boundaries, and with ‘Music of the Spheres’ he continues to do so.

Taking influences from Holst and Rachmaninov as much as Steve Reich or William Orbit, this piece is classical in nature, but yet is also immediately identifiable as classic Mike Oldfield.

Using a full concert orchestra and choir, and with solo parts from Mike himself on guitar, legendary soprano Hayley Westenra and renowned pianist Lang Lang, this is a work with huge emotional and musical scope. And whilst the piece was entirely conceived, produced and written by Mike, in order to translate his ideas into traditional classical notation arranged for musicians to play, he turned to popular modern classical composer Karl Jenkins.

The title of the piece is a reference to something that Mike feels strongly: that all music should aim to represent the spriritual, or otherworldly elements of life: something beyond the mundane and everyday.

In this he has clearly succeeded. ‘Music of the Spheres’ is by turns epic, tender, mournful and triumphant. It is the work of a composer who above all can make beautiful and substantial music, regardless of genre or instrumentation.

“A ‘Planets’ for the 21st century” – Classic FM

‘Music of the Spheres’ is released in the UK March 17th, 2008.

Tracklisting:

1. Harbinger
2. Animus
3. Silhouette
4. Shabda
5. The Tempest
6. Harbinger Reprise
7. On My Heart (feat. Hayley Westenra)
8. Aurora
9. Prophecy
10. On My Heart Reprise (feat. Hayley Westenra)
11. Harmonia Mundi
12. The Other Side
13. Empyrean
14. Musica Universalis

Music Of The Spheres on amazon.co.uk

Mike Oldfield Official Website

Two years after the death of iconic poet and musician Ivor Cutler, his family have announced a new release of ‘A Flat Man’, Ivor’s final album.

Originally released on Creation Records in 1998, this much-sought-after album has been unavailable since 1999. The release also marks the launch of Hoorgi House Records, a new company set up by Ivor’s family, which is destined to become the major label for Ivor Cutler material.

Jeremy Cutler, Ivor’s son, says: “Ivor was a prolific artist but his work can be hard to locate. We not only aim to bring back into circulation some on the material which is currently unavailable, but also look to release new material which has never been publicly available before. Ivor has fans all over the world and Hoorgi House will help to ensure that they can continue to enjoy his work.”

Ivor Cutler, recently revealed as the inspiration behind Franz Ferdinand’s song “Jacqueline”, counted John Lennon, Bertrand Russell and Billy Connolly amongst his fans.

He recorded 21 live sessions for John Peel, appeared in the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour film, and published over 30 books and 10 albums. Often called Scotland’s alternative poet laureate, Ivor died on 3 March 2006, aged 83.

‘A Flat Man’ is released on 17 March 2008, with a new sleeve featuring Ivor’s artwork, and notes by his son Jeremy:

“This is possibly Ivor’s darkest collection of songs, stories and poems. The macabre is permeated, however, with veins of nostalgic sweetness. Ivor’s humorous mastery of the inappropriate is also here, together with his granite acuity.” – Jeremy Cutler

Title: A Flat Man
Artist: Ivor Cutler
Label: Hoorgi House Records
Release Date: 17 March 2008
Catalogue number: HHCD01
Format: Mid-price CD
Playing time: 50mins 50secs
Distribution: Proper Music
Digital Distribution: Kudos
48 Tracks including: “A Bubble or Two”, “I Ate a Lady’s Bun”, “Living Donkey”, “My Next Album”, “I Built a House”, “Knocking at My Door”.

Ivor Cutler on amazon.co.uk

About Hoorgi House Records

The label was established by Ivor’s family in 2007 to ensure the continuing availability of Ivor Cutler material for new and existing fans, and to extend the range of material available. ‘A Flat Man’ is the label’s first release; further releases are in the pipeline. The name Hoorgi House is taken from a story of that title in Gruts, Ivor’s first published work. Ivor Cutler’s own illustration of the story is the logo of the new company – an appropriate flag to hoist over the extraordinary realm of the creative and productive Cutler.

Hoorgi House Records Official Website

About Ivor Cutler

Ivor Cutler, loved by generations of fans for his unique brand of music and poetic humour, published 30 books, produced 10 record albums, and was a phenomenal stage presence for 50 years. He is also famous for his radio work – especially his 21 sessions for the legendary John Peel.

For more information, go to:

Ivor Cutler Official Website

Listening to Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl is like lying on your back outside on a sunny day, watching the clouds go by. The music is so tranquil that I couldn’t concentrate on the work I was trying to do – and instead, gave up and am now writing this review.

Their new album, ‘Two’ is out in March 2008, but I’m lucky to have it early and am happy to tell the world about it. The harmonies and musicianship throughout ‘Two’ is superb – it’s the most hypnotic and relaxing music that I’ve heard in a long time. Kathryn’s voice is gentle, and seems to float in amongst the chords of the acoustic guitar.

‘Two’ is a generous album, with 13 songs, most of them co-written by Kathryn and Neill. It was recorded in an intimate setting, and the album was unbelievably written, recorded and mixed in just over two weeks.

Opening track, “6am Corner” features Neill’s subtle vocal harmonies – just enough to add ‘a little color’ to Kathyrn’s lead. The instrumentation is tight – albeit at times the melody reminds me of the Beatles’ “Let It Be”, but only briefly. On the quaint “Innocent When You Dream” (Tom Waits), Neill and Kathryn harmonize throughout, and apparently, the song was recorded in just one take.

“Come With Me” is the first single release off of ‘Two’. The lyrics are enchanting, and the song as a whole draws me in with each note. Like some sort of spell is being cast. A brilliant choice for the first release.

“Frame” is one of my favorites, a clever song, and is the one song on the album that makes me think, “Joni Mitchell”. Maybe it’s Kathryn’s vocal phrasing, or the lyrics that include, “look at that painting on a hotel wall, seen by lonely eyes. Don’t go into hotels lookin’ for dreams, don’t go into them with thoughts of your life” – either way, it’s a stand out track. I love the story – very touching and unique.

The rustic feel of “Armchair” could be a number straight out of Gram Parson’s repertoire. Perfect around a campfire at night – and surprisingly includes a particular swear word. Excellent!

Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl’s album, ‘Two’ is highly recommended, to be consumed in it’s entirety. One of my favorite albums of the year.

Read more about Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl on Band Weblogs.

Kathryn Williams and Neill McColl Official Website

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl release “Come With Me” as a first single from their forthcoming ‘Two’ album on 25th February, 2008. “Come With Me” is a spine-tingling, intimate and beguiling song where two people “taken by the tide way out to sea, past the friends that we used to be”, spend the night wondering if they should go further.

Kathryn and Neill first met at the Daughters of Albion concert (part of the BBC’s Folk Britannia season) where they had been paired to perform “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, a song which Neill’s father, Ewan MacColl, wrote for his mother, Peggy Seeger. “We just clicked, we didn’t need to say anything on stage, we could read where the other was going” recalls Kathryn; “within a few hours of first saying ‘hello’ to each other, we were saying ‘yeah, lets get together and make a record’ … which was both strange and kind of liberating.”

The pair have announced a special ‘iTunes Live’ show to take place at Air Studios on Friday 22nd February.

Prior to this show they’ll play warm-up shows in the Orkneys and Highlands:

February 2008

7th Inverness, Eden Court
8th Stornaway, Woodlands Centre
9th Ullapool, The Ceildh Place

The album ‘Two’ is released through Caw on 3rd March, 2008.

As previously announced, a major UK tour follows.

Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl March/April 2008 UK tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to their Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

16 March Sun BRIGHTON KOMEDIA
18 March Tue CARDIFF LEVEL 3, ST DAVIDS HALL
19 March Wed BURY THE MET
24 March Mon PERTH RED ROOMS @ PERTH THEATRE
25 March Tue EDINBURGH CABARET VOLTAIRE
26 March Wed GLASGOW CLASSIC GRAND
28 March Fri LONDON QEH
29 March Sat LEICESTER MUSICIAN
31 March Mon CHESTER TELFORDS
01 April Tue CARDIGAN THEATR MWLDAN
04 April Fri ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE
05 April Sat DURSLEY, GLOS PREMA ARTS CENTRE
06 April Sun WOLVES WULFRUN
08 April Tue NORWICH ARTS CENTRE
10 April Thu LEEDS CITY VARITIES
11 April Fri GATESHEAD SAGE
12 April Sat POCKLINGTON, YORKS ARTS CENTRE
13 April Sun BRISTOL ST GEORGES HALL
15 April Tue CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION
16 April Wed NOTTINGHAM RESCUE ROOMS
17 April Thu BEDFORD CIVIC THEATRE
19 April Sat MORCAMBE PLATFORM
27 April Sun BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL*
13 May Tue BRIGHTON THE DOME (as part of Brighton Festival)*
* Newly added ‘Daughters Of Albion’ shows.

Watch: Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl video

For more information, go to:

Kathryn Williams Official Website

Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl Official Website

Counting Crows have just released the first single from their highly-anticipated forthcoming album ‘Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings’: “You Can’t Count on Me”.

Listen to “You Can’t Count On Me”

Purchase “You Can’t Count On Me” MP3 on AMAZON.com

And if you haven’t heard them yet, check out these free downloads for “1492″ and “When I Dream of Michelangelo” also off ‘Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings’, in stores March 25, 2008.

Counting Crows: Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings on amazon.com

Stay tuned for the Counting Crows’ new download page on Counting Crows Official Website.

You can also visit the band on Counting Crows – MySpace and Facebook.

Only 500 tickets are being put on sale – you can order tickets for Porchester Hall here. UPDATE – TICKETS HAVE NOW SOLD OUT!

They then return to the UK touring circuit in April after that long hiatus, promising something ‘extra special’ for these long awaited dates, which are listed below.

The band has announced the first single from their fourth studio album, ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’, on March 10th, 2008. “Grounds For Divorce” is a welcome return from the band, driven by a thunderous riff courtesy of guitarist Mark Potter that reminds listeners of Elbow’s love of the heavy as well as the delicate. To an extent, this is Mark’s track, the riff having been in his armoury for some years waiting for the right song to let it shine.

The last two years have seen Elbow go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Two new additions to the Elbow family have arrived in the form of children for Mark and his brother Craig whilst contractual issues saw the band studio bound since their last UK tour in 2006 awaiting a now completed change of label. The time was well spent in the recording, mixing and production of ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’, with keyboardist Craig Potter firmly claiming the producer’s chair. As the band members began recording the album, their good friend and respected singer songwriter Bryan Glancy died, leaving a shadow over many in Manchester including the Elbow boys.

“Grounds For Divorce” lyrically is affected and inspired by that loss. Whilst other tracks on ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ are elegies to a lost friend, the single is about the initial aftermath, the desire to flee the situation, find another life and wipe the slate clean of all the emotional entanglements that come with the death of a close friend. It also rocks.

Elbow on amazon.co.uk

Elbow April 2008 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Elbow’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

April 2008

Friday 4 Glasgow ABC, 0844 844 0444
Saturday 5 Newcastle Academy, 0844 477 2000
Sunday 6 Leeds Metropolitan University, 0113 244 4600
Tuesday 8 Oxford Academy, 0844 477 2000
Wednesday 9 Bristol Colston Hall, 0117 922 3686
Thursday 10 Birmingham Academy, 0844 477 2000
Saturday 12 Sheffield Octagon, 0114 222 8777
Sunday 13 Manchester Academy, 0161 832 1111
Monday 14 Nottingham Rock City, 0115 822 1314
Tuesday 15 London Brixton Academy, 0844 477 2000
020 7734 8932

Monday 21 Dublin, Vicar Street, 0870 998 8888
Tuesday 22 Belfast, Mandela Hall 0818 719 390

Tickets 15 GBP (18 GBP London) plus booking fee. 24hr CC hotline: 0871 2200 260.

Elbow on Myspace
Elbow Official Website

Shizzle da rizzle, tha Doggfather is back with his ninth studio album Ego Trippin’, set for UK release on March 31, 2008 (March 11 – US). “Sensual Seduction” is set to be the first UK single release from the album and with its smooth, disco groove is a mere taster of what we can expect from the album.

“Sensual Seduction”, or if you’re over 18, “Sexual Erruption” sees Snoop flash back to a time when disco ruled, a time when a man could play a melodica keyboard in a three piece white suit and still go home with the all the ladies. On this track, the Dogg continues to do what he does best and push the boundaries of hip-hop, creating a smooth and as the title would suggest, seductive, disco tune with a video to match. And while Snoop stays firmly planted in disco he has enlisted the help of superstar UK house and garage producers, the Wideboys (aka Jim Sullivan & Eddie Craig) to work their magic on some amped up club remixes.

Ego Trippin’ is an album all about Snoop making the music he loves to make without worrying about pleasing anyone else. “I just don’t give a f**k right now and I’m gonna do me, ’cause that’s what I do best!” he explains.

Although still under wraps, it’s rumoured to include some 80’s influenced pop tracks; drawing inspiration from Prince, Rick James and George Clinton as well as groove-influenced R&B, and of course a good measure of the gangsta rap cuts that have made Snoop a hip hop icon.

If making music and films wasn’t enough, Snoop is also the star of the hugely successful reality TV show, ‘Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood’ on E! where he shows a rare glimpse of his softer side and his family life. The show also includes some very special guests including our very own David Beckham.

“Sensual Seduction” is released on Polydor Records on March 24th, 2008 with the album Ego Trippin’ out March March 31 in the UK.

Listen to Snoop Dogg: “Life Of Da Party” (ft. Too $hort and Mistah F.A.B)

Snoop Dogg on amazon.co.uk

Snoop Dogg – Ego Trippin’ on amazon.com

Watch Snoop Dogg – Sensual Seduction video

Snoop Dogg on Myspace
Snoop Dogg Official Website

Timbaland took the honours for the biggest selling singles artist of 2007 with combined sales of “The Way I Are”, “Apologize”, “Give It To Me” and “Ayo Technology” (which he had a writing credit on) exceeding 1 million units. So what better way to kick off 2008 than with another smash hit single from his double-platinum selling album ‘Shock Value’.

“Scream” is another killer R&B pop track from Timbaland that blends laid back beats with crunchy rock guitar riffs. The track features vocals from emerging artist Keri Hilson – a member of writing and production group The Clutch who have worked with artists including Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Ciara and Pussycat Doll – and solo artist Nicole Scherzinger.

Watch the making of Timbaland’s new “Scream” video with Keri Hilson and Nicole Scherzinger:

The seductive track is matched by an equally steamy video complete with ladies clad in spandex and balaclavas plus fast cars and bank heists.

Timbaland has been nominated for Best International Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards this year as well as five Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, Best Dance Recording, Best Rap Song and Producer of the Year. He has had two UK #1 singles with “Give It To Me” and “The Way I Are”, three #1 TV airplay singles with “Give It To Me”, “The Way I Are” and “Apologise” and three top 10 national radio airplay singles.

There is no doubt that 2007 was a huge year for this immensely talented artist, producer and performer but it’s looking like 2008 could be even bigger.

Scream featuring Keri Hilson and Nicole Scherzinger is set for UK release on Polydor Records on March 10th, 2008.

Timbaland Presents Shock Value on amazon.com

Shock Value on amazon.co.uk

Watch “Scream” video

Timbaland on Myspace

Timbaland Official Website

Nonesuch Records releases ‘Punch’, the debut album from Punch Brothers, on February 25, 2008 in the UK (February 26, US). The band – composer-singer-mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile’s new venture – includes Chris Eldridge (guitar), Greg Garrison (bass), Noam Pikelny (banjo), and Gabe Witcher (fiddle).

In conjunction with the release of the album, the ensemble’s first for Nonesuch, Punch Brothers performed on January 16, 18, 20 and 23 in Glasgow as part of the Celtic Connections festival, and at London’s Bush Hall on January 24.

The line-up of Punch Brothers – whose name is taken from the Mark Twain short story, Punch, Brothers, Punch! – is formidable. Chris Thile released the first of five solo albums when he was just thirteen and, by the time he was 20, he was attracting a following among pop, country, and alternative-rock audiences as a member of the Grammy Award-winning Nickel Creek.

NPR’s Bob Boilen recently said “I’ve seen many musicians in my day, but my jaw dropped listening to and watching Thile play…The command he had of his instrument, from frenetically fast strumming to tasty quiet fills, it was just first-rate.”

His band-mates are among the most in-demand performers in the worlds of bluegrass, folk, and traditional music. Guitarist Chris Eldridge was a founding member of the Nashville-based The Infamous Stringdusters and occasionally sits in with his dad Ben’s band, The Seldom Scene; bassist Greg Garrison has played with trumpeter Ron Miles and Leftover Salmon – along with banjo player Noam Pikelny. Pikelny has performed and recorded as a solo artist and has collaborated with acoustic music heavyweights John Cowan and Tony Trischka. Violinist Gabe Witcher, a life-long friend of Thile’s, is a sought-after session man whose fiddle-playing has been featured on the soundtrack of films ranging from Toy Story to Brokeback Mountain. Witcher also has recorded with a range of artists from Willie Nelson to Beck to Randy Newman and played in dobro master Jerry Douglas’ band for six years. Thile says, “I can’t imagine being more excited about a project than I am about Punch Brothers. The possibilities are endless with these guys!”

‘Punch’ is centered around Thile’s four-movement composition, “The Blind Leaving the Blind”. “I had this idea of a long-form composition that was grounded in folk music,” Thile explained, “Though much of it reads like a string quintet, there are parts that read like a jazz lead sheet. There is plenty of improvising and lots of stuff that is loosely dictated.” The album also includes four shorter compositions co-written by Thile and his bandmates: “Punchbowl”, “Sometimes”, “It’ll Happen” and “Nothing, Then”.

The group (then known as The Tensions Mountain Boys) premiered The Blind Leaving the Blind last spring at the John Adams-curated In Your Ear Redux Festival at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. The band strived to retain the live feeling of this initial performance when it came time to record the album. “We didn’t want to do any overdubbing,” Thile expands. “Nothing was added. The studio was an amazing room…and the recording captures the beauty of that kind of room.”

“Can anyone, anywhere, play anything any better than Chris Thile plays the mandolin? (Clue: they can’t.)” – The Word

‘Punch’ track listing:

1. Punch Bowl
The Blind Leaving the Blind:
2. First Movement
3. Second Movement
4. Third Movement
5. Fourth Movement
6. Sometimes
7. Nothing, Then
8. It’ll Happen

Catalogue information:
CD: 7559 799 828 DMD: 7559 799 827

Punch Brothers US tour dates (highly recommended):

Dates could be added or changed! Go to the Punch Brothers Website for the latest tour dates and information.

13 February 2008 Higher Ground, Burlington, Vermont
14 February 2008 Lebanon Opera House – On Sale 12/7, Lebanon, New Hampshire
15 February 2008 The Strand Theatre, Rockland, Maine
16 February 2008 Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, Maine
17 February 2008 The Swyer Theatre at the Egg, Albany, New York
20 February 2008 The Allen Room at Time Warner Center, New York, New York
22 February 2008 Wintergrass Music Festival, Tacoma, Washington
23 February 2008 The Independent – 2 SHOWS: 7:00P & 10:00P, San Francisco, California
25 February 2008 Sierra Nevada Tap Room, Chico, California
27 February 2008 Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, California
28 February 2008 Troubadour – on sale 12/10, Los Angeles, California
1 March 2008 Soho Restaurant & Music Club, Santa Barbara, California
6 March 2008 Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, Bloomington, Indiana
7 March 2008 Southern Theatre, Columbus, Ohio
9 March 2008 Clemons Fine Arts Center, Paducah, Kentucky
27 March 2008 Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall, Asheville, North Carolina
28 March 2008 Carolina Theatre, Greensboro, North Carolina
29 March 2008 The Clayton Center, Clayton, North Carolina
30 March 2008 North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center (McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square), Charlotte, North Carolina
2 April 2008 The Kent Stage, Kent, Ohio
3 April 2008 Seton Performance Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio
5 April 2008 Gild Hall – On Sale 1/12, Arden, Delaware
6 April 2008 Shubert Theater, New Haven, Connecticut
9 April 2008 Rams Head On Stage – EARLY SHOW, Annapolis, Maryland
9 April 2008 Rams Head On Stage – LATE SHOW, Annapolis, Maryland
25 May 2008 Delfest, Cumberland, Maryland

Punch Brothers – Punch on amazon.co.uk

Punch on amazon.com

Nonesuch Records Website

Punch Brothers Official Website
Punch Brothers on Myspace

Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow will release her sixth studio album, ‘Detours’, on February 18th 2008 in the UK (February 5th, US).

The album marks the return of producer Bill Bottrell, who previously worked with Sheryl Crow on her breakthrough debut album ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’, which earned the singer three Grammy Awards, and sold more than ten million copies worldwide.

“This is the most honest record I’ve ever made. It’s about being forced to wake up,” says Crow.

Lyrically the album is the most politically and personally outspoken record of her career, addressing the current state of the world from different perspectives as well as some of the personal challenges she’s faced over the last few years.

‘Detours’, which in the end remains spiritually hopeful, retains the raw freshness of Bottrell’s ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’ – production and subtly pushes the boundaries of her previous work into new musical territories.

Track titles include “Shine Over Babylon” “Love Is Free,” the Arabic-tinged “Peace Be Upon Us,” “Lullaby for Wyatt” (from Grace Is Gone, starring John Cusack) and the stark folky album opener “God Bless This Mess.”

Watch Sheryl Crow – Love Is Free video:

Sheryl Crow – Detours on amazon.com

Detours on amazon.co.uk

Sheryl Crow on Myspace
Sheryl Crow Official Website

Josh Ritter had a successful year last year. A cult stateside hit, the singer/songwriter scored rave reviews for his live shows and wonderful album ‘The Historic Conquests of Josh Ritter’, which The Guardian hailed as one of the ultimate LPs of last year.

Now, the Idaho musician has announced his first UK live dates of 2008. Following a sold-out tour of Canada, the shows will feature a night at London’s Bloomsbury Ballroom (March 31st).

As if that wasn’t good enough, Josh will record a live session for Radio 2, which will be broadcast on the Bob Harris show, February 2nd.

His new single “Empty Hearts” is set for release March 24th, 2008 in the UK.

Watch video: Josh Ritter on David Letterman – “To the Dogs or Whoever”:

Josh Ritter UK tour dates:
with Dawn Landes – support

Dates could change! Go to Josh Ritter’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

March 25, 2008 – Oxford – Zodiac at Oxford Academy
March 26, 2008 Portsmouth – The Wedgewood Rooms
March 27, 2008 Exeter – Exeter Phoenix
March 28, 2008 Liverpool – Carling Academy 2
March 30, 2008 Norwich – Waterfront
March 31, 2008 London – Bloomsbury Ballroom
April 03, 2008 Edinburgh – The Liquid Room
April 04, 2008 Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
April 05, 2008 St. Albans – The Alban Arena

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter on amazon.co.uk

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (with Bonus EP) on amazon.com

Josh Ritter on Myspace
Josh Ritter Official Website

Spotted at an open mic night in London’s Ginglik, Beth Rowley is one-to-watch.

Mentored by Carleen Anderson and signed to Blue Thumb Records, the 26 year-old singer/songwriter releases her euphoric new single “Oh My Life” on March 10th, 2008 – the first single from her debut LP ‘Little Dreamer’, May 5th.

Currently on a residency at London’s Cherry Jam, Beth Rowley is special guest to both Tom Baxter (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, January 31st) and Newton Faulkner (Roundhouse, March 6th).

Watch Beth Rowley – “Oh My Life” video sample

Beth Rowley UK tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to Beth Rowley’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

January 29, 2008 – Oxford, Carling Academy (Zodiac) – Tom Baxter support
January 31, 2008 – London, Shepherds Bush Empire- Tom Baxter support
February 12, 2008 – London, Cherry Jam Residency
February 26, 2008 – London, Cherry Jam Residency
March 6, 2008 – London, The Roundhouse

Beth Rowley – Little Dreamer on amazon.co.uk

Beth Rowley on Myspace
Beth Rowley Official Website

Wowing crowds on a major world tour, James Blunt returns with the new single, “Carry You Home” on March 17th, 2008 in the UK.

This is the third track to be taken from his #1 LP ‘All The Lost Souls’ – which has sold 600,000 UK copies and 3.5 million internationally. It follows a BRIT nomination for Best British Single (“1973″). The video was directed by Jake Nava, whose credits include Rolling Stones, Natalie Imbruglia, Usher and Dido.

James Blunt – All The Lost Souls on amazon.co.uk

All The Lost Souls on amazon.com

For more information, go to:

James Blunt on Myspace
James Blunt Official Website