New Bruce Springsteen doc “Springsteen & I” hits theatres July 22nd

“The Music. The Fans. The Soundtrack To So Many Lives.”

From brucespringsteen.net:

Coming July 22, the new motion picture Springsteen & I will be broadcast to movie theaters worldwide in an ambitious, simultaneous event.

This unique documentary, produced by Ridley Scott Associates and Mr. Wolf, was created for the fans, by the fans, and includes some of Bruce’s most loved songs and previously unseen performances alongside the remarkable stories of those who lived by his music.

“This beautifully crafted film provides a unique insight into the powerful bond between a recording artist and those who connect so profoundly with his music,” said executive producer Ridley Scott. Now, this collective filmmaking experience comes to audiences everywhere who can discover how the sound of Bruce Springsteen became the soundtrack to so many lives.

Tickets for the screenings will go on sale June 4, and to celebrate the film’s release, fans around the world have the opportunity to star in the official Springsteen & I movie poster. Details on how to enter at springsteenandi.com.

(FYI, that clip at the beginning of the trailer about the guy getting dumped? I was at that show. October 21st, 2012 in Hamilton. It was pretty damn funny.)

One hit wonder Wednesday: Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me) – Reunion

Ok, before you read on, watch this first. Raise your hand if, like me, you’re old enough to remember when this ad first aired:

Now that you’ve recovered from that flashback, how about a look back at a novelty classic from 1974 that managed to reach the Billboard Top 10. Although the song is credited to the group Reunion, “Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me) is essentially a group of studio musicians fronted by singer and producer Joey Levine. Levine was a bubblegum music pioneer whose previous successes included the 1968 hit Yummy Yummy Yummy by The Ohio Express.

The lyrics, if they can be called that, are basically Levine citing all sorts of pop culture references of the day, mostly musicians. Listen closely and you hear references to everyone from Aretha Franklin to ZZ Top. At the end of the song you can hear a snippet of the Four Tops’ “Baby I Need Your Loving”.

And while we’re travelling down memory lane, here’s the complete track list for Out of Sight. See how many of these songs you remember. Bonus points if you actually owned the album.

Side One:

Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting - Elton John
I’ve Got the Music in Me - The Kiki Dee Band
Life Is A Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me) – Reunion
Beach Baby - First Class
The Black-Eyed Boys – Paper Lace
Touch Me - Fancy
Higher Plane - Kool & The Gang
You Little Trustmaker - The Tymes
I Feel A Song (In My Heart) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas

Side Two:
You Ain’t Seen Nothin Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Get Dancin’ - Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes
Star - Stealers Wheel
After the Goldrush - Prelude
So You Are A Star - Hudson Brothers (Who remembers their Saturday morning show? C’mon, fess up,  I know you’re out there.)
Heavy Fallin’ Out - The Stylistics
The Need To Be - Jim Weatherly
Abra-Ca-Dabra - DeFranco Family
Kings Of The Party - Brownsville Station
Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation

From my ticket stub vault: Garland Jeffreys, plus news on his new disc

February 28, 1987 (Club Soda, Montreal)

New Yorker Garland Jeffreys is a personal fave of mine. With a distinctive voice and songs that combine elements of rock, reggae, jazz and other influences, his music has never fit snuggly into one category (other than just “great”). But since he arrived on the scene in the mid-70s, he’s maintained a devoted following which continues to this day. His landmark 1977 album Ghost Writer  and in particular the track “Spanish Town” was a favourite for airplay on Montreal’s CHOM-FM, the station I listened to throughout my teens (and briefly worked at).

On a dreary February night in 1987, I had the opportunity to see him and it wasn’t something I was going to miss, especially at an intimate venue like Club Soda. Other than just being an overall great show, one of the most memorable elements was the brilliant way he started the show. The band came on stage, but no Garland. Suddenly we hear him start singing, but we don’t see him. Figure he’s going to walk out on stage like the band did. Then a spotlight comes on, shining on a figure sitting hunched over at the bar at the back of the club. He then slowly gets up, and sings his way through the crowd toward the stage. No one even really knew he was there. Simple, but incredibly memorable.

In 2011, after a far too long absence (13 years!), Jeffreys released the excellent The King of In Between which was the “welcome back” his fans had been waiting for. Now comes word that he’s back at work on a new disc and he’s turning to his fans to get the project moving. Fans can make a pledge of $10 to get a download of the album when it’s released, or pledge more and get the album plus other goodies like an autographed cd ($26), your name in the liner notes ($81), or an executive producer credit (that one will cost you $5000). You can read all about it and watch a message from Jeffreys at pledgemusic.com. FYI, 10% of the pledges will go to the Beth Israel Medical Center “Favors for Neighbors” program in NYC, which supports elderly people in Stuyvesant Town where Jeffreys lives.

If you live in Ottawa or Calgary you’ll be able to catch Jeffreys in concert this summer. He’s playing the Ottawa Bluesfest on July 5th and 6th and the Calgary Folk Music Festival on July 27th.

Until the new disc comes out, enjoy a great clip of Jeffreys performing “Coney Island Winter” on Letterman.

Set your PVR: 2013 R&R HOF Ceremony, Saturday @ 9PM on HBO

The picture above pretty much says it all. If you miss the first airing, it will air again throughout the week. Check the HBO schedule here.

 

Looking for some good “top down” music for the long weekend? Check out Chicago’s Great Divide (via NoiseTrade)

A little rock, a little soul, and throw some horns into the mix? Count me in. I recently discovered, through the good folks at NoiseTrade, Chicago-based Great Divide.  They have two albums under their belt, and both are available for download via the NoiseTrade website. Their music is easy to listen to, but don’t take that to mean it’s ‘easy listening’. It’s the kind of music that will bring life to any party, the kind of music the passengers in your ragtop are bound to ask “hey, who is this?” Seriously, you can’t go wrong with this stuff. Check them out.

Performer magazine called their music “rock n’ soul custom-made for a sweaty live setting”. I couldn’t agree more.

Their debut album, Reservoir, can be streamed and downloaded here.

Their recently released self-titled second disc can be streamed and downloaded here.

As a bonus, check out their cover of the Marvin Gaye/The Band classic “Don’t Do It”, then go download their albums. You won’t be sorry.

One hit wonder Wednesday: A Tale of Two Phils

Phil Collins’ association with Philip Bailey, the Earth, Wind & Fire vocalist, goes back to Collins’ debut solo album, Face Value, released in 1981. On that and subsequent albums Collins made frequent use of the EWF horn section. When Bailey asked Collins to produce his own second solo album, 1985′s Chinese Wall, Collins not only obliged to take on the role of producer and drummer but also co-penned with Bailey (and bassist Nathan East) the single Easy Lover, which while technically a Philip Bailey single had Phil Collins written all over it. No surprise then that the single turned out to be a huge hit for Bailey, propelling his album to Gold status.

Outside of EWF, Philip Bailey has had a succesful career as a Gospel artist and he also released a couple of jazz albums. And of course, his work in EWF continues. But in the realm of mainstream solo success, it’s safe to say that Bailey’s one shot at the top took place back in early 1985 when he joined forces with a dimunitive English drummer for a great slice of mid-eighties pop.

Rolling Stones partner with Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka

This was so tailor made for Keith Richards. Crystal Head Vodka,  founded by Dan Aykroyd, and The Rolling Stones, have partnered to create an exclusive, limited edition Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Gift Set. According to the Crystal Head website, the gift set includes:

• Stunning handcrafted display case featuring a real zipper—recalling the legendary Sticky Fingers album cover
• Bottle of Crystal Head Vodka
• 2-CD compilation of live Rolling Stones hits—not available for sale anywhere else
• Crystal bottle decanter top—engraved with The Rolling Stones iconic lip-and-tongue logo
• Bottle tattoo—featuring the 50th anniversary logo

The package retails in North America for about $100. 

For those who are interested, here’s the track listing for the two cd’s. I haven’t been able to find out where or when the tracks were recorded.

Disc 1:

1. Brown Sugar

2. Let’s Spend The Night Together

3. Shattered

4. Paint It Black

5. Gimme Shelter

6. Wild Horses

7. Shine A Light

8. Rocks Off

9. Miss You

Disc 2:

1.  Beast of Burden

2. Angie

3. Under My Thumb

4. Start Me Up

5. Jumpin’ Jack Flash

6. Honky Tonk Women

7. Satisfaction

8. You Can’t Always Get What You Want

9. Sympathy For The Devil

Anybody headed to see the Stones in Toronto or Montreal? I’ll be at the Toronto show on May 25th.  While they’re unlikely to make an appearance, I’d love to hear either of these live: