The Rolling Stones have unveiled the details of their next album, ‘Shine A Light’, to be released by Universal Music / Polydor. The album is from the Martin Scorsese-directed concert film SHINE A LIGHT and will be released simultaneously with the movie.

From the unmistakeable opening riff of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” to the classic sounds of “Tumbling Dice”, “Sympathy For The Devil”, “All Down The Line” and “Start Me Up” plus some unusual gems from the Stones catalogue – “You Got The Silver” and “Faraway Eyes” – ‘Shine A Light’ will be released in the UK on 7 April, 2008.

Included are three stunning collaborations – with blues legend Buddy Guy on “Champagne and Reefer”, Jack White from White Stripes on “Loving Cup” while Christina Aguilera duets with Mick Jagger on “Live With Me”.

‘Shine A Light’ will be released on double CD worldwide with a single disc version available in the US.

‘Shine a Light’ is a 22 track Rolling Stones live double album recorded during two memorable nights at New York’s Beacon Theatre in 2006. Produced by The Glimmer Twins and mixed by Bob Clearmountain, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood are supported by their long-standing backline including bassist Darryl Jones, Chuck Leavell keyboards, Bobby Keys on saxophone, backing vocals Lisa Fischer, Blondie Chaplin and Bernard Fowler, and the horn section – Tim Ries, Michael Davies and Kent Smith.

Martin Scorsese’s SHINE A LIGHT film recently kick-started the Berlin Film Festival to widespread critical acclaim and receives its New York premiere on March 30 and European premiere in London on 2 April. UK Cinemagoers will have the chance to experience a Stones concert as never before – as the fifth member of the band, from the front row and from behind the scenes.

No stranger to rock concert films, Scorsese filmed the Stones over a two-day period at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. With performances from Buddy Guy, Jack White of the White Stripes and Christina Aguilera, and integrated with rarely seen archival footage, SHINE A LIGHT is a unique cinema experience.

Twentieth Century Fox will take the ultimate Rolling Stones concert film SHINE A LIGHT from Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese to over 100 cinemas nationwide on 2 April via satellite link for simultaneous premieres alongside the London Leicester Square opening.

Tickets on sale from 7 March, 2008.

The feature film Shine A Light, directed by Martin Scorsese, is on UK national cinema release from 11 April 2008.

Album track listing:

CD 1

Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Shattered, She Was Hot, All Down the Line, Loving Cup (with Jack White), As Tears Go By, Some Girls, Just My Imagination, Faraway Eyes, Champagne and Reefer (with Buddy Guy), Tumbling Dice, You Got The Silver, Connection.

CD2

Sympathy For The Devil, Live with Me (with Christina Aguilera), Start Me Up, Brown Sugar, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Little T&A, I’m Free, Shine A Light.

Album Credits

Produced by the Glimmer Twins
Co-produced by Bob Clearmountain
Recorded and mixed by Bob Clearmountain

Mick Jagger: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Keith Richards: guitar, vocals
Charlie Watts: drums
Ronnie Wood: guitar
Darryl Jones: bass guitar
Chuck Leavell: keyboards
Bobby Keys: saxophone
Bernard Fowler: vocals
Lisa Fischer: vocals
Blondie Chaplin: vocals
Tim Ries: saxophone, keyboards
Kent Smith: trumpet
Michael Davis: trombone

‘Martin Scorsese’s homage to the Rolling Stones has the most stunning concert footage I’ve seen’….There’s something indestructible about their energy…..The concert itself is a piece of Technicolour magic’ – James Christopher, The Times

‘This is Dynamite’ ‘I’ve always been struck by how the Stones have remained so vital’ ‘The Rolling Stones keep exploding over the decades, defying their age and keeping us satisfied’ – Baz Bamigboye, Daily Mail

‘[It] will blow you away, as it did me’ ‘Shine A Light is a technical tour de force, a visceral hit and a film…One sees Wood, Watts, Jagger…and Richards, for what they are; extraordinary, exotic, extravagant creatures.’ – Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times Culture

‘Shine A Light radiates a genuine, heartening joy in performance’ – Andrew Mueller, Uncut

The Rolling Stones – Shine A Light on amazon.co.uk

Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack on amazon.com

For more details visit:

Shine A Light Movie

The Rolling Stones Official Website

One of the greatest popular musicians Britain has ever produced, Jack Bruce is a supremely talented instrumentalist and vocalist whose pioneering bass playing style has influenced a generation of bassists. He’s also the possessor of one of the most powerful voices in modern music and a composer of some of the most original and influential music of the past forty years.

Jack Bruce ‘Spirit – Live At The BBC 1971-1978′ is set for UK release April 7th, 2008 on Polydor Records. This 3 disc set spans his trips to the BBC between 1971 – 1978 and contains the best of his post Cream BBC recordings. Sessions, concerts and Old Grey Whistle Test broadcasts combined in a beautifully packaged box set containing rare photos and extensive liner notes.

It features some of Jack’s finest compositions such as “Folksong”, “You Burned the Tables On Me”, “Can You Follow?”, “Smiles and Grins” and “Morning Story” alongside new arrangements of Cream favourites such as “We’re Going Wrong” and “Born Under A Bad Sign”. It spans the period during which Jack recorded the albums ‘Harmony Row’ (1971), ‘Out Of The Storm’ (1974) and ‘How’s Tricks’ (1977).

These BBC recordings are from the following sources:

On September 18th, 1971 the newly formed Jack Bruce Band recorded a very memorable ‘In Concert’ performance in front of an invited audience at the BBC Paris Theatre in Lower Regent Street. The line-up of the band was old-cohort, Graham Bond on organ and saxophone, Chris Spedding on guitar, John Marshall on drums and Art Themen on sax. Aside from performing excellent renditions of “You Burned the Tables on Me”, “Smiles and Grins”, “Folk Song” and “A Letter of Thanks” from Harmony Row, the band performed a new arrangement of the Cream classic “We’re Going Wrong” (originally featured on the album Disraeli Gears), and “The Clearout” from 1969’s ‘Songs for a Tailor’. The set also made reference to Jack’s earlier musical past by including “Have You Ever Loved a Woman”, featuring Graham Bond on lead vocals and often performed with the Graham Bond Organisation.

Prior to this, Jack joined drummer Jon Hiseman and saxophonist John Surman to record a session for BBC Radio Three’s Jazz in Britain series on the 10th August 1971. This session featured a number of specially recorded works, including Jack’s “Gone”, “Clearway” and the earliest recording of a piece that would feature as part of Jack’s live set both with his own band and with West, Bruce and Laing – the excellent “Powerhouse Sod”.

By the time 1974’s Out of the Storm had been released Jack Bruce was in the throws of forming a new band. Recruiting guitarist Mick Taylor (who had recently left the Rolling Stones), keyboard players Carla Bley (on whose Escalator Over the Hill album Jack guested), Ronnie Leahy and drummer Bruce Gary this line-up became the new Jack Bruce Band.

Pleased with the distinctly different feel the band had given to Jack Bruce’s music, the band played an extensive European tour in June 1975. They also recorded a special set for BBC 2’s The Old Grey Whistle Test on June 6th. Older material such as “Smiles and Grins”, “Morning Story” and “Can You Follow” was performed alongside “Peaces of Mind” and “One” from ‘Out of the Storm’ and a version of the Tony Williams composition, “Spirit”.

In the late summer of 1976 a new incarnation of the Jack Bruce Band was formed with Hughie Burns on guitar, Tony Hymas on keyboards and Simon Phillips on drums and this band began work on the album ‘How’s Tricks’. Released in March 1977 the album heralded further touring activity, preceded by the recording of another ‘In Concert’ programme for BBC Radio One at the Paris Theatre on 14th April 1977. This excellent set saw new material such as “Madhouse”, “Time”, “Baby Jane”, “Something to Live For”, “Lost Inside a Song”, “How’s Tricks” and a reworked “Without a Word” performed alongside older material such as “Born Under a Band Sign” (recorded by Cream for the album ‘Wheels of Fire’).

The final session here saw Jack Bruce reunited with Jon Hiseman and John Surman to record a new session for BBC Radio Three in June 1978 for the programme ‘At the Third Stroke’, part of the Jazz in Britain series. Three improvisational works were recorded, “Fifteen Minutes Past Three”, “Ten to Four” and “Twenty Past Four”, and the session was an interesting musical exercise.

Jack Bruce – Spirit: Live at the BBC 1971-1978 on amazon.co.uk

Spirit-Live at the BBC-1971 to 1978 on amazon.com

Jack Bruce Official Website

Bryan Adams storms back with his 11th studio album, entitled ‘11′ on March 17th, 2008 through Polydor Records, packed full of unmistakeable rockers and signature ballads.

The lead single “I Thought I’d Seen Everything” is a Bryan Adams classic in the making – a rocky, mid-tempo track that has already gone onto radio playlists on both side of the Atlantic.

The track is out now and available: Free download – “I Thought I’d Seen Everything” from hmv.com!

‘11′ was recorded largely in hotel rooms and backstage dressing rooms around the world during the past two years and feature the return of his long time collaborator Jim Vallance on three cuts. The Adams/Vallance partnership was responsible for many of Bryan’s classic hits including “Heaven”, “Summer of 69″ and “Run To You.”

From the uplifting “Broken Wings” to the sultry “Mysterious Ways” to the anthem-like “Something To Believe In” [that's boasts a chorus that should fill stadiums across the world], Bryan Adams’ 11th recording of original material is yet another milestone in a career that has spanned two and a half decades.

Whether it is the plaintive guitar solo in “Oxygen” or the reflective strains of “I Ain’t Losin’ The Fight,” the songs hold the listener and transport them, underscoring once again why Adams is in such demand as a songwriter and concert performer. ‘11′ is destined to bring new live favourites to the stage that would easily sit alongside Adam’s extensive catalogue of greatest hits.

In support of the release of the album, Adams will be putting on a unique ‘11 concerts, 11 cities’ tour, taking in 11 different countries in just 11 days. The intimate shows at some spectacular venues will see Bryan perform an acoustic set, on stage, with just his guitar and harmonica. The London show will be on 11th March, 2008 at St James Church in Piccadilly.

To coincide with the album and tour, an exhibition of Bryan Adams photographs will be held at London’s historic National Portrait Gallery, entitled ‘Modern Muses’.

The full list of dates for the ‘11 Dates, 11 Cities’ tour in March 2008 are as follows:

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

7th Lisbon Maxime
8th Barcelona Espacio Movistar
9th Milan Theatre Metropol
10th Hamburg St Pauli Theatre
11th London St James Church
12th Paris Reservoir
13th Amsterdam De Koepelkerk
14th Brussels Vaudeville
15th Zurich Kaufletien Festaal
16th Vienna Birdland
17th Copenhagen Pakhus 11

Bryan Adams on Myspace
Bryan Adams Official Website

Introducing…Jack McManus. See Jack McManus at his piano, and it’s hard to imagine man and keyboard apart. The musical hooks fly in from all corners on his debut album, ‘Either Side of Midnight’, but if there’s one constant it’s the part played by Jack’s take-everywhere upright.

It’s a surprise, then, to learn most of his songs started life as melody lines worked out on a trumpet. The mad-haired 23-year-old looks an unlikely candidate for a career as a professional trumpet player, but that’s the way things were heading until his demo of (brass-free) songs landed him both a publishing and record deal earlier this year.

The son of a rock & roll pyrotechnics expert from Bromley, Jack grew up listening to the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel; an un-snobby devotion to stick-in-your-head melodies is a hallmark of his song writing. Jack’s talents had their first recorded outing earlier this year on Groove Armada’s ‘Soundboy Rock’ album. He co-wrote “From The Rooftops”, and a spacey version of his voice propels the finished track on its Erik Satie-ish path.

His vocals get a warmer, live-sounding treatment courtesy of producer Steve Robson on ‘Either Side of Midnight’ (Universal Music Record Label). It’s an instantly-accessible, refreshingly “up” album, as evidenced by the joyous first single “Bang On The Piano”.

Other highlights are the unashamedly beautiful “Fine Time To Lose Your Mind” with its echoes of the Eagles and Wichita Lineman, the glorious singalong “You Think I Don’t Care” and the title track, which recalls the swoonsome pop of the Alessi Brothers.

Jack is playing live at:

19 February 2008 – Metro, London
26 February 2008 – Borderline, London

Download album track “Not The Hardest Part” for free on Jack’s u-download page.

Jack’s debut single, “Bang On The Piano” is released on Polydor Records on April 21st, 2008 with his album ‘Either Side Of Midnight’ to follow on April 28th.

“immaculate and impossibly catchy” – The Sunday Times, Culture

“more melodies than a melody factory working 24/7 to pump out melodies” – Guardian Unlimited, New Band of the Day

Jack McManus on Myspace
Jack McManus Official Website

Van Morrison is set to release his latest album ‘Keep It Simple’ March 17, 2008 via Exile Productions/Polydor Records.

‘Keep It Simple’ is Van Morrison’s first album of new material since 2005, and the first in several years in which he penned all 11 songs specifically for one album. In the interim the legendary artist had a year that may be unprecedented for any living artist, having released three separate collections of his hits, with the latest, ‘Still On Top’ entering the UK charts at #2 and selling platinum, proving the ongoing appetite for his unrivalled work.

Van Morrison’s music has always incorporated the widely varied influences he heard and absorbed since his childhood days on the streets of Belfast – long before the bands of his youth and his initial breakthrough with Them. On ‘Keep It Simple’, Morrison honours all those varied influences – jazz, folk, blues, Celtic, country, soul and gospel – at times melding them all together at once in his own signature sound. “I felt I had something to say with these songs…” he explains. There is a definite theme that recurs throughout the album, especially in the title track.

In keeping with that idea, ‘Keep It Simple’ does not boast the big horns or string arrangements of some of Van Morrison’s previous work. What it does feature are gorgeous songs rich with emotion, depth and beauty. As on the poignant “Soul,” where Morrison repeats the chorus, as if to subtly remind us that, “Soul is a feeling, a feeling deep within. Soul is not the colour of your skin.” Morrison explains his approach with the track “Entrainment” – “Entrainment is when you connect with the music…Entrainment is really what I’m getting at in the music…It’s kind of when you’re in the present moment – you’re here – with no past or future.”

Whether it’s the easy country gospel of “Song of Home” or the bluesy swing of “How Can A Poor Boy,” throughout ‘Keep It Simple’ Morrison exudes a wisdom gained through five decades of making groundbreaking music. Few artists have successfully recorded in as many genres of music as Van Morrison, and even fewer have remained as relevant for as long (only Ray Charles, with whom Van collaborated, comes to mind). Morrison has done so by constantly moving forward and never sitting still. On the heels of a series of “Best Of” releases, this record starts fresh with what could well be a record full of all new classics.

Van Morrison 2008 tour dates:

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

January

Friday 18 – London, England, Hammersmith Apollo
Friday 25 – Sheffield, England, City Hall
Saturday 26 – Blackpool, England, Opera House
Thursday 31 – Castellon, Spain, Auditorio de Castellon

February

Friday 1 – Castellon, Spain, Auditorio de Castellon
Friday 29 – Cologne, Germany, Palladium

March

Saturday 1 – Frankfurt, Germany, Jahrhunderthalle
Friday 21 – Oxford, England, New Theatre
Saturday 22 – Bristol, England, Colston Hall
Thursday 27 – Manchester, England, Bridgewater Hall
Friday 28 – Manchester, England, Bridgewater Hall

April

Thursday 10 – Milano, Italy, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Friday 11 – Milano, Italy, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Friday 25 – Malmo, Sweden, Baltiska Hallen
Saturday 26 – Gothenburg, Sweden, Lisebergshallen

May

Friday 9 – Berlin, Germany, Tempodrom

Van Morrison – Keep It Simple on amazon.co.uk

Keep It Simple on amazon.com

Van Morrison on Myspace
Van Morrison Official Website