Global superstar Bruno Mars has achieved the highest selling debut of his career with first-week
album sales equivalents for 24K Magic exceeding 231,000. 24K Magic takes the No. 1 slot on both the Top Digital Albums chart and the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart this week, and No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album has also been streamed over 400 million times across audio and video partners so far. Mars’ album and the lead single “24K Magic” both simultaneously hit No. 1 on the iTunes Overall Albums and Overall Songs Charts. The album’s title track and explosive first single “24K Magic” has climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, a new peak, and has also officially been certified Gold by the RIAA.
The critically acclaimed album – which has already received rave reviews from media outlets ranging from BET to The New York Times to Stereogum – is also achieving international success with No. 1 rankings on charts across multiple countries including France and Japan. The album’s lead single “24K Magic” currently sits at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, with the music video alone at 165 million views on YouTube and climbing.
Last week, Bruno Mars sold over 1 million tickets for his upcoming “24K Magic World Tour” in a single day, according to Live Nation. Tickets for the highly anticipated world tour went on sale last Monday morning, following Mars’ night of jaw-dropping television which included an opening performance at the American Music Awards, plus an intimate 60 Minutes profile that marked his first on-camera interview in four years.
Billboard announced that the extensive global trek has added 15 shows for a total of 100, including five nights in the Greater New York City area, four nights at Los Angeles’ iconic Forum, and four nights at the famed O2 Arena in London. Mars – currently starring on the cover of Rolling Stone – will perform at the upcoming Victoria’s Secret Fashion show, which airs December 5th. The appearance will follow Mars’ recent show-opening performance at the American Music Awards and his fourth performance on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, highlighted by “24K Magic” and the new album track, “Chunky.”
An intoxicating thriller filled with obsession, jealousy, betrayal and love, Frank & Lola comes to Blu-ray and DVD on March 7, 2017 (delayed to libraries due to Uni's rental policies) from UPHE Content Group. This official 2016 Sundance Selection stars Academy Award nominated Michael Shannon (Midnight Special, Elvis & Nixon), Imogen Poots (Need for Speed, That Awkward Moment), Justin Long (Funny People, He's Just Not That Into You), and Michael Nyqvist (Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) .
A seductive and intense noir romance for our times, Frank & Lola is the story of two people locked in a battle of passion. When talented chef Frank meets aspiring fashion designer Lola, he is instantly and violently in love. As the secrets of Lola's dark past are revealed, the lovers are drawn into a web of sex, jealousy and revenge. With outstanding performances from Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots, Frank & Lola is a haunting examination of love, obsession and domination that weaves a twisted yet irresistible spell.
Lionsgate today announced that multi-award winning actor, composer, rapper and writer Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the smash Broadway musical Hamilton, is partnering with The Kingkiller Chronicle author Pat Rothfuss to serve as creative producer and musical mastermind of feature film and television series adaptations of the best-selling franchise book trilogy with an option to be involved in future stage productions as well. Miranda will serve as producer of the franchise and is expected to compose the original music and write the songs. Rothfuss is an executive producer for both film and television.
In an unprecedented collaboration between film and television, Lionsgate will simultaneously develop and produce the feature film franchise based on The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy and a premium quality drama series that expands on the world outside of the books. The film script, which is being penned by writer Lindsey Beer (Transformers 5, Dungeons & Dragons), will be based on the first book, The Name of the Wind. Miranda and Rothfuss will be intimately involved in the development of the new characters and storylines explored in the TV show. As previously announced, Robert Lawrence (Clueless, Die Hard with a Vengeance), who has been involved in The Kingkiller Chronicle series since its earliest days, will produce for film and television.
Magnolia Home Entertainment announced today that they have acquired home entertainment rights to Stephen Kijak’s WE ARE X. From the production team behind the Academy Award winning Searching for Sugar Man, WE ARE X is a transcendent and beautifully shot rock ‘n’ roll story about the Japanese band X JAPAN, one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Celebrated as “a fascinating and assured documentary” (The New York Times) that “tells the greatest rock ‘n’ roll story America has never heard” (Pitchfork), WE ARE X is directed by acclaimed documentarian Stephen Kijak (Stones In Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man). The critically acclaimed music documentary premiered theatrically starting October 21 via Drafthouse Films and is continuing to expand in theaters in over 40 markets nationwide.
Under the enigmatic direction of YOSHIKI, composer, classically-trained pianist, drummer/percussionist, and the creative force behind the group, X Japan has sold over 30 million singles and albums combined, captivating such a wide range of admirers such as Sir George Martin, Gene Simmons, Marilyn Manson, Stan Lee, and the Japanese Emperor, while pioneering a spectacle-driven style of visual rock called Visual Kei, a one-of-a-kind cultural phenomenon. WE ARE X is an astonishingly intimate portrait of a deeply haunted–but truly unstoppable–virtuoso and the music that has enthralled legions of the world’s most devoted fans.
This is a special piece of film to accompany the release of Kate Bush's live single ‘And Dream Of Sheep’ from her forthcoming Before the Dawn album.The vocal was performed live while filming Kate lying in the huge water tank at Pinewood Studios. This was to create a sense of realism, as the character in the song is lost at sea. However it became more realistic than Kate had imagined. She spent so long in the water during the first day of filming that she contracted mild hypothermia. She recovered after a day off and carried on filming. Everyone agreed it had added to the authenticity of the performance. This film was then projected onto a large oval screen which hung above the stage during the performances of her live show.
Strongly inspired by The Beatles, The Weeklings have released their highly anticipated second album entitled "Studio 2". The album takes the listener on a sonic journey that evokes the kind of excitement contained in early Beatles recordings.
To accomplish this feat, The Weeklings flew to England to record at Abbey Road Studios in June. They discussed ideas with former Beatles recording engineers Ken Scott and Alan Parsons, and then recorded in the very room, called Studio 2, where The Beatles had worked with the legendary producer George Martin.
"Studio 2" is the result of such painstaking efforts. The album contains eight new Weeklings songs and four ultra-rare Lennon/McCartney bonus tracks.
"Some (Lennon/McCartney compositions) are only now seeing the light of day as finished recordings," Zeek Weekling said. "The album completely embodies the magical legacy of the original British Invasion ... We recorded all tracks live, standing where The Beatles stood, with all vintage 60's equipment."
The band's debut album, "Monophonic", received heavy rotation on many radio stations since its release in March 2015. The song "You Know What To Do" earned the title of "Coolest Song in the World" on Sirius/XM's "Little Steven's Underground Garage" channel. In addition, The Weeklings recorded an hour long "Loft Session" for legendary DJ Mike Marrone on Sirius/XM Channel 30.
The Weeklings are:
Lefty (Glen Burtnik), bass guitar/vocals: platinum and gold record awarded songwriter, composed songs for John Waite, Styx, Randy Travis, Marshall Crenshaw, Patty Smyth and Don Henley. Portrayed Paul McCartney in the Broadway production of Beatlemania, and went on to perform as a member of major international acts including Styx and The Orchestra (composed of former members of ELO).
Zeek (Bob Burger) rhythm guitar/vocals: gold record awarded song writer whose credits include Styx, Donnie Iris, HBO pictures, Kasim Sulton and others. Performed with Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Jon Bon Jovi.
Rocky (John Merjave) lead guitar/vocals: longstanding member of The Fest for Beatles Fans house band, Liverpool, performed with Billy Preston, Donovan, Ronnie Spector, Billy J. Kramer, Denny Laine and many others.
Smokestack (Joe Bellia) drums/vocals: He has been the drummer with Southside Johnny, Dave Mason, Marshall Crenshaw, Bruce Springsteen, Nils Lofgren, Rick Derringer, Jon Bon Jovi and many others.
"Studio 2" was released on November 18 and is available on CD and vinyl formats
Based on a true story of survival and bravery, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on January 24 from Lionsgate. Nicolas Cage stars as the captain of the USS Indianapolis, a boat tasked with a top-secret mission at the end of World War II. With remarkable production value, the film also stars Tom Sizemore and Thomas Jane. From director Mario Van Peebles (TV’s “Roots,” TV’s “Empire”), the USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.
BLU-RAY/DVD/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES
· “The Making of USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” Featurette
CAST
Nicolas Cage Pay the Ghost, The Trust, Dying of the Light
Matt Lanter TV’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” TV’s “90210”
James Remar TV’s “Dexter,” 2 Fast 2 Furious
Adam Scott Miller TV’s “Crisis”
Max Ryan Death Race, Chain of Command
with Tom Sizemore Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down
and Thomas Jane The Mist, TV’s “Hung”
Multi-platinum international music sensation Celtic Woman released their latest studio album
VOICES OF ANGELS recently (November 18) on Manhattan/Caroline. The album contains some of the most popular songs from the Celtic Woman repertoire, along with several previously unrecorded tracks, all with stunning new orchestral arrangements recorded with the 72-piece Orchestra of Ireland.
Celtic Woman has a remarkable 12-year-legacy of introducing the most talented singers and musicians from Ireland onto the world stage. VOICES OF ANGELS showcases the angelic voices of Susan McFadden, Mairéad Carlin, Éabha McMahon and introduces the breathtaking new Celtic violinist Tara McNeill. The foursome will follow the album’s release with a short run of holiday-themed dates in late 2016 (at which they’ll introduce U.S. audiences to Tara McNeill), with a full tour to follow in Spring 2017.
Available on Physical CD – VOICES OF ANGELS features songs from the group’s storied career: “Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears,” “As She Moved Through The Fair” and “Mo Ghile Mear (My Gallant Star),” alongside traditional classics as “Amazing Grace,” “Ave Maria,” “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night” and well-known film scores “My Heart Will Go On” (Titanic), “For The Love of A Princess” (Theme from Braveheart) and “A Time For Us” (Theme from the 1969 film Romeo and Juliet). VOICES OF ANGELS(Digital/CD) is available now and the full track listing is below.
This weekend at D23's Destination D: Amazing
Adventures event at Walt Disney World Resort, Tyler Slater and Nicole Nalty
announced the addition of Disney's triumphant animated classic
"Pinocchio" to the celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection and
gave members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club the first look at the film's
all-new trailer. "Pinocchio," which inspired the world to wish upon a
star, arrives for the first time on Blu-ray and again on DVD on January 31 with hours of new and classic bonus
features.
The Walt Disney Signature Collection release includes hours of classic bonus
material and exclusive features including a reinvented rendition of "When
You Wish Upon a Star" created and performed by music influencers from
Disney's Maker Studios; never-before-seen artwork from the film's Pleasure
Island sequence; archival recordings of Walt himself during
"Pinocchio" production; and a recently restored and scored 1927 short
featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
It
is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to the one and only Sharon Jones.
Her voice and vision will continue to be a source of inspiration and joy for lovers of music all over the world. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends at Daptone Records.
Official message from Daptone Records:
We are
deeply saddened to announce that Sharon Jones has passed away after a heroic
battle against pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones,
including the Dap-Kings.
Thank
you for your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.
In lieu
of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations:
First Run Features has obtained the rights to Garrett Zevgetis’ documentary Best and Most Beautiful Things, a coming-of-age story that celebrates outcasts of the world. First Run is planning a December theatrical release for the film, which is produced by Zevgetis, Ariana Garfinkel, Jeff Consiglio and Jordan Salvatoriello and a January DVD release. The documentary premiered at SXSW in March and has had a successful festival run across the country.
Best and Most Beautiful Thing follows Michelle, a precocious 20 year old blind woman who disappears into her quirky obsessions and isolation. She’s excited about getting a job, but then is fired resulting in her spending the next year in her bedroom. With humor and bold curiosity, she chases love and freedom in the most unexpected of places: namely, a provocative, sex-positive fringe community. “I want to experience all aspects of life,” Michelle says. “I want to live on my own.”
Available today from B&T, the Moana original motion picture soundtrack features seven original songs and a full original score, plus two reprises as well as two end-credit versions of songs from the film. Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Moana" opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
The diverse and dynamic team behind the film's inspired music includes Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning songwriter/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who counts among his credits Broadway's Pulitzer Prize-winning and multiple Tony-winning "Hamilton" and the Tony-winning "In the Heights," three-time Grammy-winning composer Mark Mancina ("Speed," "Tarzan" and the Oscar-winning "Training Day") and Opetaia Foa'i, the founder and lead singer of Te Vaka, a winner of numerous world music awards.
Miranda said, "Moana has a family that she loves, an island that she loves, but there's a voice inside that's calling. The idea of quieting life enough so that you can hear that inner voice was something really worth writing about for me because I think it's so important."
Go behind-the-scenes with the film's
extraordinary cast and the real people behind the inspiring true story!
Patrons will cheer for Disney's "Queen of Katwe," the
inspirational journey of a young girl from the streets of Uganda to world-class
chess player, which has earned widespread critical acclaim, including a 93%
Certified Fresh critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes. The triumphant film,
which is based on a true story, arrives home on Blu-ray, DVD on January 31.
The home entertainment release of "Queen of Katwe" takes viewers
behind-the-scenes with filmmakers, as well as the cast and their real-life
counterparts, through extensive bonus features, including a three-part
documentary highlighting the amazing personal stories behind the film; audio
commentary by director Mira Nair ("Salaam Bombay!," "Mississippi
Masala," "Monsoon Wedding"); a short film by Nair depicting the
life of Robert Katende; in-studio access to 15-time GRAMMY Award-winning
recording artist Alicia Keys during the creation of her new original song
"Back to Life;" deleted scenes; and more.
PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing “NATURE: THE STORY OF CATS” on DVD and Blu-ray. Cats are one of the most diverse and studied mammals in the world, yet only now is their real identity being understood. Evolutionary tricks and adaptations have contributed to their successful survival. In fact, all 37 species of the cat family behave similarly in the way they hunt, utilizing flexible spines and sharp teeth to catch their prey. No surprise, then, that they are one of the greatest predators since the dinosaurs and are still evolving.
“NATURE: THE STORY OF CATS ” chronicles the 11 million year history of how the most widespread carnivore on the planet evolved, from their roots in ancient rainforests to today’s popular house cat. The latest discoveries by scientists studying their physiology and behaviors are also incorporated into the series.
“NATURE: THE STORY OF CATS” will be available on DVD and Blu-ray December 27, 2016. The run time of the program is approximately 120 minutes and the DVD SRP is $24.99 and the Blu-ray SRP 29.99. The program will also be available for digital download.
The first episode, Asia to Africa, shows how the first cats arose in the rainforests of Southeast Asia and moved throughout the continent adjusting to other environments such as high altitudes (snow leopard, Pallas’s cat) and frozen forests (Siberian tigers). The film introduces the most ancient type of cat existing today, the rare clouded leopard, whose genetic blueprint is shared by all cats. Learning how to become ambush predators through play is one of the crucial traits that all young members of the cat family must develop in order to survive in the wild. Cubs of species like the clouded leopard don’t have much time to master these skills before their mother forces them out to find their own territories as solitary predators. It is one of the reasons that around nine million years ago, the ancient tree climbing felines began to fan out all over Asia.
Nonesuch Records will release the three-CD box set The Randy Newman Songbook on December 9, 2016, following its recent release on vinyl. The Randy Newman Songbook series—comprising solo recordings of songs from throughout Newman's five-decade career
—previously included two volumes, released on CD in 2003 and 2011. Sixteen additional songs from a newly released third volume, along with five bonus tracks ("Feels Like Home," "A Wedding in Cherokee County," "Family Album: Homage to Alfred, Emil and Lionel Newman," "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country," and "I'm Dreaming"), join those first two volumes to create this new complete Songbook box set.
Mitchell Froom produced The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1 (which has been remastered for this box set) and was joined on Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 by Newman's lifelong friend and colleague Lenny Waronker. Listen to the track "Guilty," below.
The New York Times said of the first volume of The Randy Newman Songbook: "The great craftsmanship is more apparent in the stripped-down context," and the Associated Press said, "Few singer-songwriters could inject more new life into solo piano versions of their work than Randy Newman." The UK's Uncut called Vol. 2 "another subtly sublime stroll through the master's back catalogue," noting that Newman is "owner of a peerless canon," and that the album "isolates his full range of qualities: the improbable juxtapositions of caustic topicality and heart-wrenching universality, the concise character studies, and singing and piano playing that seem to emanate from the very fabric of America."
Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg* re-teams with director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor) in the tense, moving action drama Deepwater Horizon, arriving on Digital HD December 20th from
Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE Company. Filled with powerful performances and “white-knuckle tension” (USA Today) Deepwater Horizon will be available on 4K Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital HD), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and On Demand January 10. Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh, Deepwater Horizon honors the brave men and women whose heroism would save many on board, and change all of their lives forever. This epic story of survival also stars Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight), Academy Award nominee John Malkovich (Best Supporting Actor, In the Line of Fire, 1993), Gina Rodriguez (TV’s “Jane the Virgin”), Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner franchise), and Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, Almost Famous, 2000).
Mark Wahlberg leads an all-star cast in this unforgettably powerful film inspired by a thrilling story of real-life heroes. For the one hundred and twenty-six people aboard the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig, April 20, 2010, began like any normal day. Before day’s end, the world would bear witness to one of the greatest man-made disasters in U.S. history. Deepwater Horizon reveals the brave acts of the men and women who rose to the challenge—and risked everything to lead others to safety.
The New York Times best-selling series by James Patterson breaks all the rules when Middle
School: The Worst Years of My Life arrives on DVD an Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD on January 3 from Lionsgate and CBS Films. This hilarious, family-friendly leap from the page to the big screen stars Griffin Gluck (Batman vs. Robin) alongside Lauren Graham (TV’s “Gilmore Girls”), Rob Riggle (The Hangover), Thomas Barbusca (TV’s “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp”), Andy Daly (Semi-Pro), Adam Pally (Dirty Grandpa), Isabela Moner (TV’s “100 Things to Do Before High School”), Isabella Amara (The Boss) and Alexa Nisenson (TV’s “Constantine”.)
Rafe has an epic imagination…and a slight problem with authority. Both collide when he transfers to a rule-crazy middle school. Drowning in do’s and don’ts, Rafe and his best friend Leo hatch a plan to expose the principal by breaking every rule in the school’s Code of Conduct. As the principal strikes back, Rafe’s world, at home and at school, explodes into hilarious chaos (both real and imagined) in this laugh-filled family comedy based on James Patterson’s best-selling book series.
The Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life home entertainment release special features include four behind-the-scenes featurettes, a hilarious gag reel plus four deleted scenes, including one hilarious animated sequence. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life will be available on Blu-ray and DVD for the suggested retail price of $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.
Brian Eno has announced a new ambient album called Reflection that'll be out January 1, 2017 via Warp/Redeye. Reflection, which is one 54-minute track, follows his release of The Ship, which Eno put out earlier this year. Below, read Eno’s statement on his new album, below, and see the cover artwork.
"Reflection is the latest work in a long series. It started (as far as record releases are concerned) with Discreet Music in 1975 ( - or did it start with the first Fripp and Eno album in 1973? Or did it start with the first original piece of music I ever made, at Ipswich Art School in 1965 - recordings of a metal lampshade slowed down to half and quarter speed, all overlaid?)
Anyway, it’s the music that I later called ‘Ambient’. I don’t think I understand what that term stands for anymore - it seems to have swollen to accommodate some quite unexpected bedfellows - but I still use it to distinguish it from pieces of music that have fixed duration and rhythmically connected, locked together elements.
The pedigree of this piece includes Thursday Afternoon, Neroli (whose subtitle is Thinking Music IV) and LUX. I’ve made a lot of thinking music, but most of it I’ve kept for myself. Now I notice that people are using some of those earlier records in the way that I use them - as provocative spaces for thinking - so I feel more inclined to make them public.
Pieces like this have another name: they’re GENERATIVE. By that I mean they make themselves. My job as a composer is to set in place a group of sounds and phrases, and then some rules which decide what happens to them. I then set the whole system playing and see what it does, adjusting the sounds and the phrases and the rules until I get something I’m happy with. Because those rules are probabilistic ( - often taking the form ‘perform operation x, y percent of the time’) the piece unfolds differently every time it is activated. What you have here is a recording of one of those unfoldings.
Reflection is so called because I find it makes me think back. It makes me think things over. It seems to create a psychological space that encourages internal conversation. And external ones actually - people seem to enjoy it as the background to their conversations. When I make a piece like this most of my time is spent listening to it for long periods - sometimes several whole days - observing what it does to different situations, seeing how it makes me feel. I make my observations and then tweak the rules. Because everything in the pieces is probabilistic and because the probabilities pile up it can take a very long time to get an idea of all the variations that might occur in the piece. One rule might say ‘raise 1 out of every 100 notes by 5 semitones’ and another might say ‘raise one out of every 50 notes by 7 semitones’. If those two instructions are operating on the same data stream, sometimes - very rarely - they will both operate on the same note…so something like 1 in every 5000 notes will be raised by 12 semitones. You won’t know which of those 5000 notes it’s going to be. Since there are a lot of these types of operations going on together, on different but parallel data streams, the end result is a complex and unpredictable web.
Perhaps you can divide artists into two categories: farmers and cowboys. The farmers settle a piece of land and cultivate it carefully, finding more and more value in it. The cowboys look for new places and are excited by the sheer fact of discovery, and the freedom of being somewhere that not many people have been before. I used to think I was temperamentally more cowboy than farmer… but the fact that the series to which this piece belongs has been running now for over 4 decades makes me think that there’s quite a big bit of farmer in me."
Based on the international best-selling novel by Liz Jensen, the mystery surrounding a death-defying
young boy will be revealed when The 9th Life of Louis Drax arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on February 7 from Lionsgate. Directed by Alexandre Aja (High Tension, 2006’s The Hills Have Eyes) and screenplay by Max Minghella, witness Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan as he uncovers the chilling truth behind the unlucky Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth). Also starring Aaron Paul, The 9th Life of Louis Drax Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.
After surviving eight near-death accidents throughout his unlucky life, Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth) plunges off a steep cliff on his ninth birthday. While police investigate the cause of Louis’s near-fatal fall and the whereabouts of his violent father, Peter (Aaron Paul), acclaimed neurologist Dr. Allan Pascal (Jamie Dornan) uses unorthodox techniques to try to tap into the boy’s unconscious mind and reveal the truth about the events that led to his condition. But as he’s drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of Louis’s seeming ability to cheat death, the doctor finds himself falling for Louis’s mother, Natalie (Sarah Gadon). As new clues emerge in the case, a shocking revelation changes the fates of Louis Drax and everyone around him.
Tony Bennett celebrated his 90th birthday in August and this milestone occasion continues with the Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 album on December 16 from RPM Records / Columbia Records. TONY BENNETT CELEBRATES 90 will be released as a Standard edition as a companion to the forthcoming NBC prime-time TV special, "Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet To Come," which airs on December 20th at 9pm ET/9pm PT. The special was filmed in front of a live audience at Radio City Music Hall on September 15th and features performances by Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Andrea Bocelli, Kevin Spacey, Tony Bennett and many others. Additionally, performances by Billy Joel and Elton John were taped at alternate locations and will appear in the broadcast and on the CD. The CD also includes an extended 28-page booklet featuring appreciation essays contributed by President Bill Clinton, Martin Scorsese, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mandel, Bill Charlap and Everett Raymond Kinstler.
In addition to the new CDs and NBC special, Tony's fifth book, JUST GETTING STARTED, will be released on November 15th. Bennett collaborates with renowned journalist Scott Simon to celebrate the people and places who have helped, influenced and steered him along the way, among them his parents, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lady Gaga, Pablo Picasso, the city of San Francisco, among others. JUST GETTING STARTED also features over 80 color images of Tony's original artwork and is being released by HarperCollins.
Neil Young will release a brand new studio album,
entitled Peace Trail, on December 9th via Reprise Records. Beginning
today the album is available for pre-order through B&T,Peace Trail features all new songs that Young wrote since the
release of his album EARTH, this past June. This new album
is primarily acoustic and reflects an intimate, sparse approach to each of the
ten songs within:
“Neil Young matches the fire in his
belly to the poetry from his pen for one of the most gripping outings of his
long career. This riveting collection, a spare acoustic-electric hybrid,
seethes with righteous indignation over a plethora of social and political
injustices, but also soothes with deeply felt empathy for those on the
receiving end of iniquity." - Los Angeles Times / Randy Lewis
On December 9, 2016 Masterworks Broadway/Epic Records will release “Hairspray LIVE! on CD.
Original Soundtrack Of The NBC Television Event” the companion album to NBC’s broadcast of “Hairspray Live!” which will air on Wednesday December 7, 2016 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The all-star cast features Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Derek Hough, Dove Cameron, Garrett Clayton, Ephraim Sykes, Shahadi Wright Joseph, exciting newcomer Maddie Baillio, and Special Guest Stars Billy Eichner, Sean Hayes, Andrea Martin, and Rosie O’Donnell.
Available for preorder now from B&T, “Hairspray LIVE! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event” will include studio recordings for all of the musical numbers that are performed by the cast members in the live broadcast.
In “Hairspray Live!” teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local TV program. When against all odds Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”
Danny Says, the documentary film about the life and times of Danny Fields is set for a January 31, 2017 DVD & Blu ray release from Magnolia Home Entertainment. Since 1966, Danny Fields has played a pivotal role in music and “culture” of the late 20th century: working for the Doors, Cream, Lou Reed, Nico, Judy Collins and managing groundbreaking artists like the Stooges, the MC5 and the Ramones. Danny Says follows Fields from Phi Beta Kappa whiz-kid, to Harvard Law dropout, to the Warhol Silver Factory, to Director of Publicity at Elektra Records, to “punk pioneer” and beyond. Danny’s taste and opinion, once deemed defiant and radical, has turned out to have been prescient. Danny Says is a story of marginal turning mainstream, avant garde turning prophetic, as Fields looks to the next generation.
Danny Says is largely crafted from over 250 hours of present-day interviews and items from Danny Fields’ immense archive (thousands of photographs, audio cassettes, ephemera).
NADA SURF NOW STREAMING NEW LIVE ALBUM PEACEFUL GHOSTS. Peaceful Ghosts (now available from B&T via Barsuk on CD) came about after frontman and main songwriter Matthew Caws received
a surprise email asking about a potential collaborative orchestral project from
the Austrian national radio station FM4. A little over a year later, the result
is a beautiful recording, culled from two live performances in Vienna and Potsdam
early this summer, that covers a broad stylistic range, from James Bond at one extreme
to the joy and wonder of Walt Disney at the other, with a whole range of surprises
in between. Classics such as the delicate melancholy of "Blonde On Blonde" unfold
to surprising new places with soaring countermelodies, while new favorites from
You Know Who You Are, including "Rushing" and "Out of the Dark", showcase the power
and majesty of the original without losing the lyrical and musical subtlety that
has become the hallmark of Nada Surf for the past twenty years.
In the summer of 2015, Caws was sitting at his kitchen table in Brooklyn, frantically
writing what would become Nada Surf's seventh album, the critically acclaimed You
Know Who You Are (2016), when an email arrived that would delight and terrify him.
Once a year, FM4 in Austria chooses an artist for a national orchestral concert
that's broadcast across the country, and they reached out to Nada Surf asking if
the band would like to be the next. Soon after receiving the FM4 request, the band
secured a similar offer from Radio Eins in Berlin to perform live on air with the
Babelsberg Film Orchestra, which derives its name from and is affiliated with the
legendary Babelsberg Film Studios where notable films such as Metropolis, Dr. Mabuse
and The Blue Angel were made.
"If we said yes, we'd have to choose a composer to write the parts and then decide
which songs he or she should write for. We'd have to decide these things soon. Well,
that was out of the question," recalled Caws. "Deciding what kind of Thai curry
take-away I should get that evening was about as distant a decision as I could imagine,
while the small matters of which songs would go on the new Nada Surf record, who
would mix them, what the album would be called and what the final verse of the
song I was working on right then would be, loomed ahead. I would try and answer
these questions after that curry, but making decisions about a concert months later
was more than I could handle."
Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed new album “Prog Noir”, Stick Men have released a new Stick Men features Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Markus Reuter.
video of the same name.
Says Tony Levin, “We're thrilled at the video Ofrin has made for our song 'Prog Noir'. She's an excellent artist in her own right, musical and visual, and made the video on her own, then presented it to us. It's pretty special when you find that your music has inspired others to create
something new and special.”
*Watch Stick Men's new video “Prog Noir” below-
Stick Men is a progressive rock band created by musicians with extensive experience playing together. Pat Mastelotto and Tony Levin are the rhythm section of the legendary band King Crimson. Mastelotto is in demand all over the world as the premier drummer for progressive rock. Levin plays in Crimson, with Peter Gabriel, and has recorded with John Lennon, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and others. Markus Reuter is a renowned composer/guitarist who designed and plays his own unique touch style guitar.
Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, the powerhouse bass and drums of the group King Crimson for more than 2 decades, bring that tradition to all their playing. Levin plays the Chapman Stick, from which the band takes it’s name. Having bass and guitar strings, the Chapman Stick functions at times
like two instruments. Markus Reuter plays his 8-string touch guitar – again covering much more ground than a guitar or a bass. And Mastelotto’s drumming encompasses not just the acoustic kit, but a unique electronic setup too, allowing him to add loops, samples, percussion, and more.
The result; audiences are fascinated by watching just three musicians onstage perform their unique compositions as well as wild improvisations and some cover versions of songs by King Crimson, Mike Oldfield, etc.
Before “Prog Noir”, Stick Men have released 4 studio CDs (Soup, Absalom,
DEEP, Open) as well as two live albums.
*Here's what the press have said about “Prog Noir”:*
*“ 'Prog Noir' is easily the best album of Stick Men and perhaps best album in this particular sub-genre in recent years.” - Erik Groeneweg, Progwereld*
*“ 'Prog Noir' would not sound out of place heard next to any number of post-1980 Fripp-Crimson LPs with its oddly angled tuneful melodies and slightly askew yet utterly coherent rhythms.” - David Luhrssen, Shepherd Express*
*“In short, if you buy this album you will have in hand something very original, satisfying and great sound quality. A must for fans of King Crimson and minutes of pleasure for others.” - Profil Prog*
Hamilton star, and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda announced via Twitter that the long-awaited Hamilton Mixtape album is finalized and will be available for pre-order starting Friday, November 4. Release date for the album will be December 2, 2016 and available via Atlantic Records. Miranda also revealed the cover art, which reimagines the broadway show’s logo with the word “Mixtape” added.
As previously revealed, the Mixtape consists of a range of music artists putting their own stamp on tunes from Hamilton, see tracklist, below.
Executive produced by The Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter, “THE HAMILTON MIXTAPE” sees songs from the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical covered and remixed by a remarkable cast of contemporary artists. Superstars contributing to the one of its kind collection include Sia, Usher, Kelly Clarkson, The Roots, Alicia Keys, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Chance The Rapper, John Legend, Regina Spektor, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Miguel, Queen Latifah, Common, Ben Folds, Andra Day, Jill Scott, Jimmy Fallon & more. “THE HAMILTON MIXTAPE” also includes three previously unreleased HAMILTON demos.
The winner of the 2016 GRAMMY
Award for “Best Musical Theatre Album,” “HAMILTON
(ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING),” is available now. The 2x RIAA platinum certified album (only the third cast
recording to go 2x platinum in the last 20 years, joining the cast recordings
of “Wicked” and “Rent”) made a stunning arrival on the Billboard charts
upon its initial digital release, coming in at #1 on the “Top Broadway Albums”
chart, #3 on the “Top Rap Albums” chart and #9 on the “Top Current Albums”
chart.This impressive debut stands as the
biggest first week sales for a digital cast recording and the second biggest
first week sales ever for any cast recording, behind only “RENT” in the
Nielsen SoundScan era.
The best-selling cast album of 2015, “HAMILTON (ORIGINAL
BROADWAY CAST RECORDING)” continued to make chart history in the weeks and
months following its arrival. The album eventually ascended to the #1 spot on Billboard’s
“Top Rap Albums” – the first and only cast recording to ever reach the chart’s
top position. Produced by Alex Lacamoire, Bill Sherman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson & Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter, founding
members of the GRAMMY-winning hip-hop band, The Roots, “HAMILTON (ORIGINAL
BROADWAY CAST RECORDING)” marks the first album to be mixed at the
legendary Atlantic Records Studio in New York City.
Gillian Welch’s groundbreaking album Revival was released twenty years ago. To commemorate the anniversary, Welch’s own Acony Records will release Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg on November 25th. Personally curated and produced by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, they worked alongside archivist Glen Chausse to mine selections from their extensive vault of analog tape recordings. The two-disc set will feature 8 previously unreleased songs, and include 21 outtakes, alternate versions, and demos from the making of the album such as the earliest home demo of “Orphan Girl” which was recorded on a four track and the rarity “Georgia Road,” a song that was only performed live once. The demo “Dry Town” was written the week after Welch and Rawlings opened for Johnny Cash and premiered on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel and is highlighted on NPR Music; listen below. NPR Music describes the album saying, “As studious as they were in their days as anonymous, young musicians, there’s proof here of the ingenuity and even playfulness with which they approached the process of refining their sound.” The album will be available on CD, as well as cassette and is available for pre order now.
Of the album, Gillian Welch says, “I’m happy that the songs hold up. That’s probably the thing I’m most proud of. There is that interesting moment in any writer’s first batch of songs or any writer’s first novel or anything, a filmmaker’s first movie that always seems to have something that is different from what comes after. Something happens in that first push. Maybe because you’re usually up against more resistance. But there is a purity or a diamond hardness to the first batch that doesn’t seem to happen again. And so Revival has that when I look at it. Maybe it’s lack of ego. You know, there really was no me. You know, the artist Gillian Welch didn’t really exist. And then after that, I did.”
Revival was Grammy nominated and was highly praised by critics worldwide including The Los Angeles Times who claimed, “…At every turn she demonstrates a spark and commitment that should endear her to anyone, from country and folk to adult pop and rock fan, who appreciates imagination and heart,” Paste Magazine who named Revival the 3rd “Best Alt Country Album of All Time,” and Entertainment Weekly praised, “…winsomely authentic…[Revival] gets an early lead on debut-of-the-year honors.”
Other quotes;
"Gillian Welch is one of the greatest songwriters on Earth. I’ve spent countless hours poring over the songs on Revival, and they still transport me to another place and time while somehow feeling current and relevant on a personal level. I’m a huge fan. Very happy to see these outtakes and rarities see the light.” –Jason Isbell
“The two-piece outfit called Gillian Welch…is fascinated by the wrinkles and motes of the experience, and has found the notes for them.” –New Yorker
“…A leading voice in roots music.” –Wall Street Journal
“…a national treasure” –New York Daily News
On the influence Revival and Gillian Welch had on him, Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers adds, “I was 13 years old when Gillian Welch won a songwriting contest at Merlefest with the song “Orphan Girl.” Shortly after, when Revival was released, I remember feeling like she and the festival were one and the same…like she and the environment around her were the past and the future of music, and unbelievably, they were right down the road from me in my home state of North Carolina. She and David Rawlings contributed mightily to a whole new understanding of what and how a song could be. The simplicity, finesse and timelessness of their work was inspiring beyond measure. The music of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings was magic for me then and it is magic for me now.”
Gillian Welch and musical partner David Rawlings have recorded 7 studio albums and have lent their talents to countless fellow artists’ recordings. In recognition of their remarkable career, Welch and Rawlings were honored with the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting in 2015 and the Berklee American Masters Award earlier this year.
BOOTS NO 1: THE OFFICIAL REVIVAL BOOTLEG TRACK LIST:
Disc One
Orphan Girl (Alternate Version)
Annabelle (Alternate Version)
Pass You By (Alternate Version)
Go On Downtown (Revival Outtake) *
Red Clay Halo (Revival Outtake)
By The Mark (Alternate Mix)
Paper Wings (Demo)
Georgia Road (Revival Outtake) *
Tear My Stillhouse Down (Home Demo)
Only One and Only (Alternate Version)
Disc Two
1. Orphan Girl (Home Demo)
I Don’t Want to Go Downtown (Revival Outtake) *
455 Rocket (Revival Outtake) *
Barroom Girls (Live Radio)
Wichita (Revival Outtake) *
One More Dollar (Alternate Version)
Dry Town (Demo) *
Paper Wings (Alternate Mix)
Riverboat Song (Revival Outtake) *
Old Time Religion (Revival Outtake) *
Acony Bell (Demo)
Following several recent Acorn TV Originals co-production announcements, Acorn Media Enterprises (AME), the development division for the Acorn brand of RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE), has partnered with All3Media International and the BBC as the North American co-producer of the thrilling new period drama CLOSE TO THE ENEMY. From acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Poliakoff (Perfect Strangers, Dancing on the Edge), this Acorn TV Original Series features an impressive ensemble cast, including Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe, 21), Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2), Angela Bassett (American Horror Story), August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds), Lindsay Duncan (The Honourable Woman), Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel), Robert Glenister (Hustle, Prime Suspect), and Charlotte Riley (Peaky Blinders). Set in a bomb-damaged London hotel in the aftermath of the Second World War, Close to the Enemy follows intelligence officer Captain Callum Ferguson (Sturgess), whose last task for the Army is to ensure that a captured German scientist, Dieter (Diehl), starts working for the British RAF on urgently developing the jet engine. Coinciding with the BBC broadcast, the seven-part series will make its U.S. Premiere on Acorn TV, the premier North American streaming service for world-class TV from Britain and beyond, beginning Monday, November 14, 2016.
President of Acorn Brands at RLJ Entertainment Mark Stevens noted, “After the hugely successful August premiere of Agatha Raisin, our first Acorn TV Original Series, we’re thrilled to offer our subscribers the next Acorn TV Original with the thrilling drama series Close to the Enemy. Award-winning filmmaker Stephen Poliakoff penned the gripping script and directed an incredible cast with a cinematic production set in war-torn Britain.”
Athena, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc.brand that specializes in high quality, informative, non-fiction Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music from Higher Ground LLC. Produced in association with the late legendary music producer Sir George Martin, and the filmmakers Show of Force, LLC, the highly-anticipated eight-part series took over five years to make and features more than 150 exclusive and original interviews with some of the most celebrated recording artists, producers, and music industry pioneers of all time sharing behind-the-scenes stories celebrating the art of recording. Artists include Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Roger Waters, Joni Mitchell, Roger Daltrey, Linda Perry, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Rosanne Cash, Steven Van Zandt, Billy Idol, Beck, RZA, and more.
Coming off its critically-acclaimed premiere at SXSW in March 2016, SOUNDBREAKING’s North American broadcast premiere begins on PBS member stations on Monday, November 14 with next-day availability to buy digitally via multiple platforms including iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Athena will release SOUNDBREAKING on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, November 29.
Mark Stevens, President of Acorn Brands at RLJ Entertainment, said, “With more than 150 exclusive interviews and rarely seen footage, Higher Ground, Sir George Martin, and Show of Force have created a remarkable, one-of-kind music documentary series sure to become iconic. SOUNDBREAKING is exactly the kind of high caliber, non-fiction programming we seek out to offer consumers through our Athena brand.”
programming, has acquired the and home video rights in North America to the new, groundbreaking music documentary
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL is an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. By following both real-life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, director Kamala Lopez discovers how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues, from workplace matters to domestic violence, rape & sexual assault to the foster case system, the healthcare system, & the legal system. Along the way, she reveals the inadequacy of present laws in place that claim to protect women, ultimately presenting a compelling and persuasive argument for the urgency of ratifying the equal rights amendment.
ACTION MOVES PEOPLE UNITED is available now, and features over 300 international artists from over 30 countries featuring Alan White, Martin Barre, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Patrick Moraz, Jann Klose, Annie Haslam, Janis Ian, Colin Andrews, Dan Ackroyd, Julian Lennon, Kathy Sledge, Wouter Kellerman and Ricky Kej, Lillias White and many other artists!
ACTION MOVES PEOPLE UNITED, is a World Peace Project with the UNESCO - USFUCA, is produced by Grammy Winner Kevin Mackie, award winning producer Krista Wallhagen, and Guinness World Record holder musician and award winning filmmaker Rupam Sarmah. Through media initiatives, in collaboration with artists, authors, and organizations from all around the world, AMPU’s mission of establishing a peaceful planet and a healthy biosphere will be an ongoing commitment. “One of the goals for the project is to pair up artists who live in opposing countries for collaborations that go beyond politics, religion and borders,” says Krista. The team has produced a musical spoken word album that will exchange ideas, stories, and information focused on bringing about World Peace through individual responsibility, Education, and helping each other. Kevin says, “We endeavor to raise awareness of environmental and humanitarian crisis and find actionable solutions.” “Our individual actions can make a big difference, but our collective actions can move the World, Inspire Change,” says Rupam. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) strives to promote peace and security among nations through education, science, and culture. Dan Aykroyd says, “I pray for the moment of mass consciousness when we all wake up and bring peace into our own hearts and souls. It’s a challenge and it’s going to take every one of us to make it happen.” The double CD album with 45 tracks of Musical Spoken Word and Songs was be officially released on Sept 21, 2016 and is available through B&T. Please visit the site for details: www.ActionMovesPeopleUnited.org! and listen to "Enlighten Your Soul", below;
Revealing the provocative, rebellious and impulsive lifestyle of a band of millennial road warriors, 2016 Cannes Jury Prize Winner American Honey hits Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD on
December 27 from Lionsgate. Theatrically released by A24, and written and directed by Academy Award winner Andrea Arnold (Best Short Film, Live Action, Wasp, 2004), critics are calling American Honey “a raunchy, rapturous teenage dream” (Entertainment Weekly) and “a new classic” (The Atlantic). Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh, the steamy film takes a raw and intimate look at modern-day adolescence. American Honey stars newcomer and breakout star Sasha Lane in a “fierce” (The New York Times) performance alongside Riley Keough (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Shia LaBeouf (Transformers franchise).
An astonishing portrait of youth on the American fringe, American Honey is told through the eyes of a vivacious teenage rebel who joins a group of fellow misfits hustling and partying their way across the country. Bursting with electric, primal energy, American Honey is an immersive, exhilarating odyssey of heartbreaking beauty — a generation-defining film that celebrates the defiant resilience of youth in pursuit of the American Dream.
Marshall Blonstein’s Audio Fidelity will be releasing Santana‘s critically acclaimed live album Lotus on limited edition hybrid SACD on November 25, 2016. Lotus is a 1974 live album by Santana, recorded at the Osaka Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan back in 1973. It was originally released in 1974 as a triple vinyl LP in Japan only. The first U.S. release was in 1991 as a 2-CD set. It features the “New Santana Band” and combines that group’s jazz and spiritual influences. Some of the band’s biggest hits are performed, such as “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va,” but it is the extended, intense instrumentals that are the order of the day such as the breathtaking “Incident at Neshabur,” “Every Step of the Way,” and “Toussaint L’Overture.”
Carlos‘ superpowered guitar is mesmerizing, the entire atmosphere is otherworldly, beautiful, modern jazzy and most of all, electrifying. His guitar tone is perfect, each solo has a central rhythmic and melodic structure that was used to express in a moment what can never be repeated. The greatness of Lotus is its ability to take all of Carlos‘ beautiful melodies and expand them each into a whole new creation.
Santana fans know there are “several different Santanas.” This was the MILES Santana, the COLTRANE Santana. This is intense and awe-inspiring music played with so much mind-numbing passion. Carlos’ guitar speaks notes on this recording that are nothing short of extraordinary. He manages to imbue a vibration that cuts right through your soul. Even on the familiar hits, the jazz fusion makes its way into the notes and Carlos delivers a new message. This was the top of Santana’s spiritual-fusion era. Lotus is the Live Santana album that gives other Live albums a bad name. Spectacular, breathtaking, emotional, spiritual…and it rocks!
DreamWorks Pictures' "The Light Between
Oceans," a lush, classical romance, starring two-time Academy Award
nominee Michael Fassbender (Best Actor, Steve Jobs), Oscar winner Alicia
Vikander (Best Supporting Actress, The Danish Girl), and Oscar and Golden
Globe winner Rachel Weisz (Best Supporting Actress, The Constant Gardener),
arrives home on Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD on January 24, 2017 via Walt Disney Home Entertainment, The mesmerizingly
beautiful film is based on the 2012 best-selling novel by M.L. Stedman, which
swept readers away with its transporting story of fate, love, moral dilemmas
and the lengths one couple will go to see their hard-fought dreams realized.
The home video release of "The Light Between Oceans" will carry
audiences even deeper into this timeless tale of love and impossible choices
through never-before-seen bonus features, including a documentary which reveals
director Derek Cianfrance's unique approach that allowed the all-star cast to
embody their characters and examine the power of love; a historical look at New
Zealand's Cape Campbell Lighthouse that serves as Janus Rock, a key element in
Stedman's novel; and insightful and in-depth audio commentary led by
Cianfrance.
