STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN & DOUBLE TROUBLE’S 1984 ALBUM, COULDN’T STAND THE WEATHER, NOW EXPANDED TO TWO CDs

COULDN’T STAND THE WEATHER: LEGACY EDITION commemorates the 20th anniversary year of the passing of legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. It revisits the commercial breakthrough of the second album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Released in May of 1984, it was their first LP to earn RIAA gold certification, and their first platinum-seller as well.

The first entry by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble in the prestigious Legacy Edition series of multi-disc packages, COULDN’T STAND THE WEATHER: LEGACY EDITION will be available as a two-CD set at all physical and digital retail outlets starting July 27th.

• Disc one restores the original eight-song, 38-minute album with “Cold Shot” (a Top 30 Modern Rock track), indelible covers of blues standards including “Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place In Town)” and Guitar Slim’s “The Things (That) I Used to Do” and, most notably, Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)” (also a Top 30 Modern Rock track and a Grammy®-nominated performance); the sequence expands with another 11 studio outtakes from the original recording sessions in January 1984, three of them previously unreleased;

• Disc two premieres a previously unreleased live concert captured three month’s after the original LP’s release, from August 17, 1984, at The Spectrum in Montreal, Canada. The band played two sets that night and this disc captures selections from the late show. Featured are a mix of songs from the just-released Couldn’t Stand the Weather (among them “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)”), plus tunes from the 1983 Texas Flood debut.

As with every title in the Legacy Edition series, the booklet contains a comprehensive liner notes essay written by an acknowledged expert. Andy Aledort, associate editor of Guitar World magazine, is a blues-rock maven and accomplished guitarist in his own right. He has authored more than a dozen guitar instruction books on trailblazers like Hendrix, Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Jeff Healey and others; and annotated CDs on Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Dickey Betts and more. Aledort has been covering Stevie Ray’s career since his arrival at Epic Records in the summer of 1983, and has written liner notes for several of his Epic/Legacy releases, including the four-disc box set SRV (2000); The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan (2002); The Real Deal: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (2006); and Solos, Sessions & Encores (2007).

Aledort’s 2,700-word essay sets the stage: “Though a mere six months had passed between the release of Texas Flood [SRV&DT’s Epic debut in 1983] and the start of the Couldn’t Stand the Weather recording sessions,” Aledort writes, “a great deal changed for the band, professionally and personally, in that short period. Couldn’t Stand the Weather represented the first time the band had a recording budget, but with it came record company pressures that had been absent previously. In addition, as the pace of the band members’ careers increased, so did the level of partying and drug use.”

The bonus track studio outtakes on disc one add a new perspective to the band’s chronology at this early stage, starting with Stevie’s original, “Empty Arms,” one of several tracks here from the first posthumous SRV collection, 1991’s Grammy Award-winning The Sky Is Crying. Hank Ballard & the Midnighters’ “Look At Little Sister” and New Orleans blues man Earl King’s standard “Come On” (covered by Hendrix on Electric Ladyland) showed up in different versions on SRV&DT’s next album, 1985’s Soul To Soul. They had performed Freddie King’s “Hide Away” and Hound Dog Taylor’s “Give Me Back My Wig” at shows (cf. Live At Montreux 1982 & 1985), but neither song would ever show up on one of their albums during Stevie Ray’s life¬time.

The previously unreleased versions here of “Boot Hill” and Elmore James’ “The Sky Is Crying” are different than those heard on The Sky Is Crying. In addition to “Empty Arms,” that album contained a number of tracks from the January 1984 sessions, including covers of Lonnie Mack’s “Wham!,” Hendrix’s “Little Wing” and Willie Dixon’s “Close To You.” Disc one comes to a close with a previously unreleased alternate take of the short instrumental, “Stang’s Swang” – compare it to the version that closes the original Couldn’t Stand The Weather album and it’s evident this version strips away the saxophone.

In August 1984, SRV&DT headlined Montreal’s Spectrum arena, where they performed an early and a late set, the latter chronicled on disc two here. They reprised a number of songs from the well-received Texas Flood debut of the year before, among them “Testify,” “Love Struck Baby,” “Texas Flood,” “Lenny,” and “Pride And Joy.” But the bulk of the attention that night was given to the songs on the new album, Couldn’t Stand The Weather, among them “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return),” “The Things (That) I Used To Do” “Honey Bee,” “Couldn’t Stand The Weather,” “Cold Shot,” “Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place In Town),” and (for a third time in this package) “Stang’s Swang.”

COULDN’T STAND THE WEATHER: LEGACY EDITION by STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE

Disc One: 1. Scuttle Buttin’ • 2. Couldn’t Stand The Weather • 3. The Things (That) I Used To Do • 4. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) • 5. Cold Shot • 6. Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place In Town) • 7. Honey Bee • 8. Stang’s Swang • Bonus tracks (studio outtakes from the Couldn’t Stand The Weather sessions): 9. Empty Arms (A) • 10. Come On (Pt. III) (B) • 11. Look At Little Sister (B) • 12. The Sky Is Falling (C) • 13. Hide Away (B) • 14. Give Me Back My Wig (B) • 15. Boot Hill (C) • 16. Wham! (A) • 17. Close To You (A) • 18. Little Wing (A) • 19. Stang’s Swang (alternate take) (C)

Key to bonus tracks:

A – from the 1991 album The Sky Is Crying (Epic)
B – from the 1999 expanded edition of Couldn’t Stand The Weather (Epic/Legacy)
C – previously unreleased

Disc Two (recorded live at The Spectrum, Montreal, Canada, August 17, 1984 (late show): 1. Testify • 2. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) • 3. The Things (That) I Used To Do • 4. Honey Bee • 5. Couldn’t Stand The Weather • 6. Cold Shot • 7. Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place In Town) • 8. Love Struck Baby • 9. Texas Flood • 10. Band Intros • 11. Stang’s Swang • 12. Lenny • 13. Pride And Joy.

DR JOHN RELEASES NEW ALBUM “TRIBAL” DUE IN AUGUST

Tribal, the extraordinary new album by Dr. John (August 3, 429 Records), shows this great American artist at the pinnacle of his creative powers, making what might be the most complete statement of his musical and personal identity in his 50-year career.

Recorded with his band “The Lower 911,” ‘Tribal’ also includes some of the down ‘n’ dirtiest tracks Dr. John has recorded since 1968′s iconic ‘Gris Gris.’

Replete with swamp rock, funk, Creole voodoo, and Mardi Gras Indian chants, ‘Tribal’ resurrects the magical persona of “The Night Tripper” in his full regalia. At the same time, Dr. John displays the rippling piano licks, Cajun-fried humor and sharp political observation that have helped make him a national spokesman for post-Katrina New Orleans – and an indelible presence on the hit HBO New Orleans drama, “Treme.”

From its opening statement, “Feel Good Music,” Dr. John sets the tone: “Feel good music, doctorate your bonesS Call me doc, your medicine man / I got a cure in the palm of my handS” The title cut, “Tribal,” featuring an actual Mardi Gras Indian chief, invokes the spirit of the tribes with references to their solidarity and the sacred healing powers of music.

As always, Dr. John has a little help from his friends: NOLA legend Allen Toussaint contributes two songs; and three songs were co-written with the late, great Bobby Charles, a Louisiana legend himself, to whom Dr. John dedicates the album. Other guest stars include slide guitar phenom Derek Trucks and jazz great Donald Harrison on alto sax.

The Lower 911 is: Herman “Roscoe” Ernest III – drums, percussion, vocals; David Barard – bass, vocals; John Fohl – guitar, vocals; Kenneth “Afro” Williams – percussion. The album was produced by Herman “Roscoe” Ernest III and Dr. John in New Orleans.
‘Tribal’ includes the tracks:

1. Feel Good Music
2. Lissen at Our Prayer
3. Big Gap
4. Change of Heart
5. When I’m Right (I’m Wrong)
6. Jinky Jinx
7. Manoovas
8. Tribal
9. Music Came
10. Them
11. Only in Amerika
12. Whut’s Wit Dat
13. Potnah
14. A Place in the Sun

Dr. John, known to friends and family as Mac Rebennack, is widely regarded as New Orleans’ foremost musical ambassador. As “Treme” creator David Simon puts it: “This guy has the whole history of New Orleans music in his head.” A Grammy winner five times over, Dr. John’s previous album, 2008′s ‘City That Care Forgot,’ won the Grammy for “Best Contemporary Blues Album.” Post-Katrina, Dr. John has emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for rebuilding his beloved city of New Orleans. He continues to dazzle and delight audiences all over the world with his tireless touring.

HEART RETURN WITH FIRST NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN SIX YEARS

Eagle Records are delighted to announce the release of “Red Velvet Car”, the first new studio album in six years from the groundbreaking Seattle-based band Heart. The record is released on 30 August 2010 [Cat. No. EAGCD424].

For this album, the first ladies of arena rock added an acoustic slant to a collection of songs inspired by the world around them, arranged for an assortment of strings including guitar, mandolin, dobro, banjo, fiddle, viola, cello and autoharp, all played by Nancy Wilson and the album’s producer, Grammy winner Ben Mink.

Nine of the album’s songs were written for, and appear for the first time on “Red Velvet Car”. The album’s closer, “Sand,” is a newly recorded version of a song originally written and recorded by the Lovemongers, Ann and Nancy’s 1990′s acoustic side project. Tracks on “Red Velvet Car” include “Death Valley,” “Safronia’s Mark,” “Red Velvet Car,” “Queen City,” “Sunflower,” “Wheels,” “There You Go,” “WTF,” “Hey You” and “Sand.”

Ann Wilson describes the album as having, “A fresh sound with all the original Heart magic.” “This album feels so right for the times,” said Nancy Wilson. “We can’t wait to share this one with the world!”

Ann Wilson and her younger sister, Nancy Wilson, first showed the world that women can rock when their band Heart stormed the charts in the ’70s with hits like “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” ‘Straight On,” “Even It Up,” “Kick It Out” and so many more. Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs, and played the instruments too, making them the first women in rock to do so. Heart continued topping the charts through the ‘80s and into the ‘90s with huge hits like “These Dreams,” “Alone,” “What About Love,” “If Looks Could Kill,” “Never,” showcasing the sisters’ enormous talents as both musicians and singers. Along the way, Heart sold more than 30 million records, had 21 top 40 hits, sold out arenas worldwide, and had a profound influence on rock music – “Red Velvet Car” continues that journey, and in considerable style.

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA “LIVE-THE EARLY YEARS” DVD DUE ON 9 AUGUST

On 9 August 2010, Eagle Rock Entertainment release “Live – The Early Years” from the Electric Light orchestra [Cat No: EREDV780]. This is the first time any of this material has been released on DVD and only the Fusion show was ever released on VHS. “Live – The Early Years” features many of their early classics including: “Showdown”, “Evil Woman”, “Ma-Ma-Ma Belle”, “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”, “10538 Overture”, “Roll Over Beethoven”, “Do Ya”, “Strange Magic” and more.

2010 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Electric Light Orchestra. ELO was formed in 1970 by Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood from the ashes of The Move. Roy Wood soon left to form Wizzard and Jeff Lynne led ELO on to become one of the biggest selling acts of the seventies and eighties with global album sales in excess of 50 million. This DVD brings together three live concerts from the earlier part of the band’s career. The first is a four track excerpt from a show at Brunel University in 1973, the second a longer eight track set filmed for the German TV series Rockpalast in 1974 and finally the Fusion concert from the New Victoria Theatre in London in 1976, filmed during the “Face The Music” tour. The line-ups for these shows were: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar), Bev Bevan (drums), Richard Tandy (keyboards), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello), Mike De Albuquerque (bass 73/74), Kelly Groucutt (bass 76), Mike Edwards (cello 73/74), Melvyn Gale (cello 76).

Brunel University 1973
1) King Of The Universe 2) Ma-Ma-Ma Belle 3) In The Hall Of The Mountain King 4) Great Balls Of Fire

Germany 1974 – Rockpalast
1) Daybreaker 2) Showdown 3) Day Tripper 4) Orange Blossom Special 5) Ma-Ma-Ma Belle 6) In The Hall Of The Mountain King 7) Great Balls Of Fire 8) Roll Over Beethoven

London 1976 – Fusion
1) Poker 2) Nightrider 3) Showdown 4) Eldorado Overture 5) Can’t Get It Out Of My Head 6) Poor Boy (The Greenwood) 7) Illusions In G Major 8) Strange Magic 9) 10538 Overture 10) Do Ya 11) Evil Woman 12) Ma-Ma-Ma Belle 13) Roll Over Beethoven

Clocking in at nearly two hours of great entertainment and featuring an interview from the ‘Rockpalast’ TV series as a bonus feature, “Live – The Early Years” is a great package. The DVD makes the perfect companion piece to Eagle’s Gold selling “Out Of The Blue: Live at Wembley” DVD (EREDV058 & Special Edition EREDV556).

UNIVERSAL SET TO RELEASE 4CD JOHN MAYALL RETROSPECTIVE

Universal will be releasing a 4CD 75 track John Mayall set covering his Decca and Polydor years including singles, live tracks, mono versions, instrumentals and much more.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1
1. Crawling Up A Hill Version 1
2. Mr. James
3. When I’m Gone
4. R&B Time
5. Runaway
6. What’s The Matter With You
7. Crocodile Walk
8. Blues City Shake Down
9. I’m Your Witchdoctor
10. Telephone Blues
11. Bernard Jenkins (Mono Album Version)
12. On Top Of The World
13. They Call It Stormy Monday Live
14. Have You Ever Loved A Woman Live Version
15. All Your Love Mono
16. Double Crossing Time Mono
17. Steppin’ Out Mono Instrumental
18. What’d I Say Mono
19. Key To Love Mono
20. Parchman Farm Mono
21. Looking Back
22. So Many Roads
23. Long Night
24. Dust My Blues
25. The Stumble

Disc 2
1. You Don’t Love Me
2. It’s Over
3. The Super-Natural
4. Sitting In The Rain
5. Ridin’ On The L And N
6. All My Life
7. Double Trouble
8. Suspicions Part One
9. Oh Pretty Woman
10. Snowy Wood
11. Checkin’ Up On My Baby
12. No More Tears
13. Brand New Start
14. Picture On The Wall
15. Look In The Mirror
16. No Reply
17. Hartley Quits
18. 2401 Single Version
19. Walking On Sunset
20. Medicine Man
21. Miss James
22. Fly Tomorrow

Disc 3
1. The Laws Must Change
2. California
3. Room To Move
4. Sleeping By Her Side
5. Don’t Waste My Time
6. Something New
7. Waiting For The Right Time
8. Counting The Days
9. Off The Road
10. Crying
11. Nature’s Disappearing
12. Accidental Suicide (Album Version)
13. Prisons On The Road (Album Version)
14. Unanswered Questions (Album Version)

Disc 4
1. Television Eye (Album Version)
2. Memories
3. Nobody Cares
4. Good Times Boogie
5. Got To Be This Way
6. Mess Around
7. Country Road
8. Moving On
9. Things Go Wrong
10. High Pressure Living
11. Driving Till The Break Of Day (Album Version)
12. Burning Sun
13. Little Kitten
14. Gasoline Blues

Source: Universal Music

Buy your copy here if you live in Europe.
Buy your copy here if you live in the USA.

ROBIN TROWER 3CD SET OF ALBUMS AND RARITIES DUE IN JULY FROM EMI

Guitar hero Robin Trower, has often been compared to the late Jimi Hendrix, for his Strat-fueled bluesy/psychedelic style. Trower, launched his career in the 60s with band Procol Harum, he then went onto launch his solo career signed to Chrysalis records.
This 3cd box set contains his five Chrysalis albums between 1973 -1976 plus bonus tracks – B’sides, out-takes, edits & previously unreleased tracks.

Buy your copy here if you live in Europe.
Buy your copy here if you live in the USA.

Albums:
1) Twice Removed From Yesterday (1973)
- Debut solo album
- Includes bonus track: Take A Fast Train (b-side of ‘Man Of The World’)

2) Bridge of Sighs (1974)
- Second solo album, fans often refer to this as his best album.
- Producer: Matthew Fisher (Organist for Procol Harum / producer to: James Dewar & Tír na nÓg)
- Sound Engineer: Geoff Emerick (Beatles engineer: Revolver, Abbey Road, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band)
- Includes bonus track: Day of The Eagle (Single Edit)

3) For Earth Below (1975)
- Third solo album, continuing the psych bluesy-rock style.

4) Live! (1976)
- Includes classic “Too Rolling Stoned”
- “Live shows the Robin Trower Band to be a quintessential no-frills blues-rock band, capable of kicking serious ass no matter what the setting” (Allmusic.com)

5) Long Misty Days (1976)
- Includes bonus tracks Long Misty Days (7″ Edit) and previously unreleased Let Me Be The One (outtake/b-side Long Misty Days)

CD 1

1. I Can’t Wait Much Longer (2010 Digital Remaster)
2. Daydream (2010 Digital Remaster)
3. Hannah (2010 Digital Remaster)
4. Man Of The World (2010 Digital Remaster)
5. I Can’t Stand It (2010 Digital Remaster)
6. Rock Me Baby (2010 Digital Remaster)
7. Twice Removed From Yesterday (2010 Digital Remaster)
8. Sinner’s Song (2010 Digital Remaster)
9. Ballerina (2010 Digital Remaster)
10. Take A Fast Train (B-side of ‘Man Of The World’) (2010 Digital Remaster)
11. Day Of The Eagle (2007 Digital Remaster)
12. Bridge Of Sighs (2007 Digital Remaster)
13. In This Place (2007 Digital Remaster)
14. The Fool And Me (2007 Digital Remaster)

CD 2

1. Too Rolling Stoned (2007 Digital Remaster)
2. About To Begin (2007 Digital Remaster)
3. Lady Love (2007 Digital Remaster)
4. Little Bit Of Sympathy (2010 Digital Remaster)
5. Day Of The Eagle (Single Edit) (2010 Digital Remaster)
6. Shame The Devil (2010 Digital Remaster)
7. It’s Only Money (2010 Digital Remaster)
8. Confessin’ Midnight (2010 Digital Remaster)
9. Fine Day (2010 Digital Remaster)
10. Alethea (2010 Digital Remaster)
11. A Tale Untold (2010 Digital Remaster)
12. Gonna Be More Suspicious (2010 Digital Remaster)
13. For Earth Below (2010 Digital Remaster)
14. Too Rolling Stoned (Live) (2010 Digital Remaster)
15. Daydream (Live) (2010 Digital Remaster)
16. Rock Me Baby (Live) (2010 Digital Remaster)

CD 3

1. Lady Love (Live) (2010 Digital Remaster)
2. I Can’t Wait Much Longer (Live) (2010 Digital Remaster)
3. Alethea (Live) (2010 Digital Remaster)
4. Little Bit Of Sympathy (Live) (2010 Digital Remaster)
5. Same Rain Falls (2010 Digital Remaster)
6. Long Misty Days (2010 Digital Remaster)
7. Hold Me (2010 Digital Remaster)
8. Caledonia (2010 Digital Remaster)
9. Pride (2010 Digital Remaster)
10. Sailing (2010 Digital Remaster)
11. S.M.O. (2010 Digital Remaster)
12. I Can’t Live Without You (2010 Digital Remaster)
13. Messin’ The Blues (2010 Digital Remaster)
14. Long Misty Days (7″ Edit) (2010 Digital Remaster)
15. Let Me Be The One (Outtake/B-side to ‘Long Misty Days’) (2010 Digital Remaster)

Released 7th July

Source EMI

TEN YEARS AFTER 3CD COMPILATION OF ALBUMS AND RARITIES DUE IN JULY FROM EMI

‘Think About The Times: The Chrysalis Years’ (1969-1972) (3CD) “Their fourth album, Ssssh, issued in August 1969, coincided with their breakthrough appearance at the Woodstock festival, a definite highlight of the subsequent film and LP of that show. Fifth album Cricklewood Green, issued in April 1970, featured their biggest UK chart hit with ‘Love Like A Man’. This was swiftly followed before the end of the year by the release of Watt, recorded at London’s Olympic Studios. 1971′s A Space In Time showed a change in direction, no doubt inspired by the more acoustic sounds prevalent in the States at the time. As well as producing their biggest Stateside hit with ‘I’d Love To Change the World’, this set is completed by Rock & Roll Music to the World from 1972, a classic mix of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll that made the band such a successful live draw” This set also includes rare b-sides and single edits, appearing on CD for the first time.

1) Ssssh. includes Ssssh. Bonus track – If You Should Love Me (b-side of Love Like A Man)

2)Cricklewood Green includes bonus track – Love Like A Man (single A side)

3) Watt

4) A Space In Time
- Includes bonus track – I’d Love To Change The World (single edit)

5) Rock ‘n’ Roll Music To the World
- includes bonus tracks Choo Choo Mama & Love Like A Man (Live) (b-side)

Full tracklisting:

CD 1

Ssssh.
1. Bad Scene 3:30
2. Two Time Mama 2:03
3. Stoned Woman 3:21
4. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 7:10
5. If You Should Love Me 5:24
6. I Don’t Know That You Don’t Know My Name 2:06
7. The Stomp 4:30
8. I Woke Up This Morning 5:31
Ssssh. Bonus track
9. If You Should Love Me (3:25) (b-side of Love Like A Man) C03650
Cricklewood Green
10. Sugar The Road (4:08)
11. Working On The Road (4:18)
12. 50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain (7:38)
13. Year 3,000 Blues (2:25)
14. Me And My Baby (4:10)
15. Love Like A Man (7:38)
16. Circles (3:59)
17. As The Sun Still Burns Away (4:53)

CD 2

Cricklewood Green bonus tracks
1. Love Like A Man 3:05 (single A side)
Watt
2. I’m Coming On 3:49
3. My Baby Left Me 5:23
4. Think About The Times 4:44
5. I Say Yeah 5:17
6. The Band With No Name 1:38
7. Gonna Run 6:03
8. She Lies In The Morning 7:25
9. Sweet Little Sixteen 4:09
A Space In Time
10. One Of These Days (5:56)
11. Here They Come (4:38)
12. I’d Love To Change The World (3:44)
13. Over The Hill (2:29)
14. Baby Won’t You Let Me Rock ‘N’ Roll You (2:15)
15. Once There Was A Time (3:23)
16. Let The Sky Fall (4:20)
17. Hard Monkeys (3:12)
18. I’ve Been There Too (5:45)
19. Uncle Jam (1:58)

CD 3

A Space In Time bonus track
1. I’d Love To Change The World (single edit) (3:11)
Rock ‘n’ Roll Music To the World
2. You Give Me Loving 6:31
3. Convention Prevention 4:25
4. Turned Off T.V. Blues 5:12
5. Standing At The Station 7:07
6. You Can’t Win Them All 4:05
7. Religion 5:44
8. Choo Choo Mama 4:00
9. Tomorrow I’ll Be Out Of Town 4:26
10. Rock & Roll Music To The World 3:46
Rock ‘n’ Roll Music To The World Bonus track
11. Choo Choo Mama (3.13)
12. Love Like A Man (Live) (b-side) (8:15)

Released July 7th

Source EMI

DEVO FIRST NEW ALBUM IN TWENTY YEARS

“Thirty years ago, people said that we were cynical, that we had a bad attitude,” says Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh. “But now, when you ask people if de-evolution is real, they understand that there was something to what we were saying. It’s not the kind of thing you want to see proven right, but it does make it easier to talk about.”

“The world is in sync with Devo,” says his band-mate and co-writer Gerald Casale. “We’re not the guys who freak people out and scare them – we’re like the house band on the Titanic, entertaining everybody as we go down.”

And so, now is the time. More than three decades after the release of their visionary debut, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo, and a full 20 years since their last studio album, Devo is back with the aptly titled Something for Everybody. The long rumored, wildly anticipated album (which was launched with a memorable performance in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics) features the band’s classic line-up – Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald and Bob Casale—joined by drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Guns n’ Roses).

Produced by Greg Kurstin (The Bird & The Bee), the album also includes contributions from John Hill and Santi White (better known as rising hip-hop star Santigold), John King of the Dust Brothers, and the Teddybears.

Though the 12 songs on Something for Everybody are built on Devo’s signature mechanized swing, the recording and presentation of the album saw the band experimenting with an entirely new approach. Greg Scholl was brought in to serve as COO for Devo, Inc., and – working with the advertising agency Mother LA – conducted a series of studies through the www.clubdevo.com site to help the band with its creative decisions, from color selection to song mixes.

“We decided to actively seek comment and criticism from outside people and use that as a tool, rather than shunning or ignoring it,” says Gerald Casale. “Our experiences participating in secondary creativity – things like corporate consensus building, focus groups—make you appreciate the connection that an artist has to society.”

“In the past, Devo was very insular,” says Mark Mothersbaugh. “This time, I became intrigued with the idea of having people who understood Devo actually work on the songs, and to do to our songs what we did to ‘Satisfaction’ on our first record. Don’t put any boundaries on their production style; let them bring what they needed to make Devo be what it should be after waking up from suspended animation for 20 years.”

His revelation came when the Teddybears did a remix of the song “Watch Us Work It,” an idea initiated by the Mother agency. “They took Josh Freese’s drums off and put on a sample from something we did back in, like, 1982. And I thought, ‘That actually is better!’ That was when I first really saw that Devo had something to absorb, as well as something to impart.”

Certainly Devo has had plenty to convey since Gerald Casale founded the group in Akron, Ohio, in 1973. The band was an extension of a multi-media exploration of the concept that mankind’s progress had ceased, and the process of de-evolution had begun. Devo’s early work caught the attention of such icons as Neil Young and David Bowie, and, with such hits as “Whip It” and “Girl U Want,” and the accompanying, revolutionary music videos, the group became one of the defining acts of the 1980s.

Devo’s sound, style, and philosophy have been an influence on artists from Rage Against the Machine to Lady Gaga. Kurt Cobain once said, “Of all the bands who came from the underground and actually made it in the mainstream, Devo is the most challenging and subversive of all.”

In 1990, Devo morphed from a recording and concert act to putting more focus on individual pursuits and various creative enterprises. Mark Mothersbaugh, along with brother Bob, and Bob Casale, began making music for films and television, working on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and Rugrats and the movies of Wes Anderson. Gerald Casale directed scores of commercials and music videos for the likes of Miller Lite Beer and Mrs. Butterworth’s to Rush, The Foo Fighters, and Soundgarden respectively. (“Everything we’ve done outside of Devo is basically a permutation on the theme we started with,” says Mark Mothersbaugh.) Meanwhile, Devo’s music remained a staple in movies, commercials, and videogames.

After appearing sporadically in concert and working on 2006′s Devo 2.0 project—with kids providing the vocals to Devo songs—the band began the stop-and-start project of making new music. “It was now or never,” says Gerald Casale. “We’re all still alive, and we can all play and sing—probably better than we ever did in the past. These new songs, like ‘Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)’ or ‘What We Do,’ are as Devo as anything Devo has ever done.”

Especially notable on Something for Everybody is the focus its songs bring to the vapid absurdity of so much contemporary speech (don’t miss the closing wail of “Don’t tase me, bro!” on “Don’t Shoot”). Mark Mothersbaugh points out that, for all the attention usually given to Devo’s funky robot sound, this has always been a central aspect of its work.

“We grew up in a time when we saw hippies become hip capitalists, when the real punks truly destroyed themselves, and we came to the conclusion that rebellion was obsolete,” he says. “We saw subversion as the most successful form of change, so we always had an attraction to loaded phrases that you can reshape and subvert to fit your own needs.”

Gerald Casale adds that Devo really was looking at today’s world when writing the new songs. “The tautology of a line like ‘What we do is what we do’ is taken straight from hip-hop,” he says. “And words like ‘bro’ and ‘dude’—we’re surrounded by it all the time, 20-year-olds don’t even see any irony in it anymore.”

A Devo for our times. A band that evolves, even as the world around them confirms the decay they have long suspected. With Something for Everybody, Devo has gained from experience, honed its attack, and stands ready to sound the alarm for another generation.

“As angry young men who have been validated, we have the possibility to do something that resonates like it did back in the early days,” says Mark Mothersbaugh. “It’s the same car, just now with air bags, power brakes, and steering.”

“We’re inspired by reality,” says Gerald Casale, “because the world is so ridiculous and stupid. DE-EVOLUTION IS REAL.”

Tracklisting will be revealed on 17 April

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JIMMY WEBB RELEASES STAR-STUDDED ALBUM IN JUNE

Just Across The River, the new album from multiple Grammy award-winner Jimmy Webb, one of the most celebrated composers and songwriters in American music history, is set for release June 28 through E1 Music / RSK Entertainment. The album features interpretations of the classic songs that made him a vital cultural icon including By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman,Galveston, The Highwayman, Oklahoma Nights and more. The album features guest appearances from Webb’s friends, fans and recording partners including Jackson Browne, Glen Campbell, Vince Gill, Billy Joel, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther and Lucinda Williams.

Just Across The River came together at the behest of producer and longtime Webb collaborator Fred Mollin, who wished to honor Webb’s storied career and his celebrated contributions to the Americana roots tradition (Webb is a native son of Oklahoma). Says Mollin of the album: This record is a homecoming for Jimmy. His songs are true classics and they could provide the soundtrack to your life.

Webb adds: From the very first song, first take, first note this record seemed blessed. I hope everyone else feels what we did as we listened to the first rough mixes. And then as each piece fell into place, a fully realized, conceptual work of art emerged.

Just Across The River was recorded primarily live over the course of two days at Sound Emporium in Nashville, TN. Joining Webb live in the studio were John Hobbs (piano, Wurlitzer, organ), Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin), John Willis (acoustic guitars, electric guitars, banjo), Larry Paxton (bass), Greg Morrow and Eddie Bayers (drums), Stuart Duncan (fiddle, mandolin), Jeff Taylor (accordion), Pat Buchanan (electric guitars) and Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro). Mark Knopfler provided lead electric guitar on By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Johnny A. contributed electric guitar on Galveston and Jerry Douglas added dobro on Wichita Lineman.

He has been blessed with the emotions and artistic talent of the great lyricists —Frank Sinatra

When I was starting out as a songwriter, I looked to Jimmy Webb as one of the most innovative and musically proficient songwriters of our generation —Billy Joel

The only artist to ever receive Grammy awards for music, lyrics and orchestration, Jimmy Webb wrote five top ten hits within a 20-month period in the 1960s, which propelled him from humble beginnings in Oklahoma to international fame. Webb is a member of the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and, according to BMI, his By The Time I Get To Phoenix, has been the third most performed song in the last 50 years, with Up, Up and Away on the same list in the top thirty. Webb has provided classics for Glen Campbell (By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman and Galveston), Richard Harris (MacArthur Park), the Fifth Dimension (Up, Up and Away, This Is Your Life), Art Garfunkel (All I Know), Linda Ronstadt (Easy For You To Say) and Joe Cocker (The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress). Webb’s songs continue to grace a multitude of major recording artists’ albums, from Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney, to Urge Overkill, Reba McEntire, Celtic Woman and James Taylor.

FULL TRACK LISTING

1. Oklahoma Nights featuring Vince Gill
2. Wichita Lineman featuring Billy Joel
3. If You See Me Getting Smaller featuring Willie Nelson
4. Galveston featuring Lucinda Williams
5. P.F. Sloan featuring Jackson Browne
6. By The Time I Get To Phoenix featuring Glen Campbell
7. Cowboy Hall Of Fame
8. Where Words End featuring Michael McDonald
9. Highwayman featuring Mark Knopfler
10. I Was Too Busy Loving You featuring J.D. Souther
11. It Won’t Bring Her Back
12. Do What You Gotta Do
13. All I Know featuring Linda Ronstadt

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JACKSON FIVE LIVE AT THE FORUM 2CD SET DUE IN JUNE

The Jackson 5: J5 Live @ The Forum is a new 2-CD set released June 22 that uncovers an amazing chapter from the phenomenal career of Michael Jackson and his brothers in the J5: their extraordinary performances from the Los Angeles Forum, recorded in June 1970 and August 1972—the first at the start of their rapid ascent to stardom, the second when they became established icons. These brilliant shows have not been released in any form until now, the 40th anniversary of the 1970 show.

J5 Live @ The Forum features earth-shaking live performances of the group’s best-known hits – “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” “I’ll Be There,” “Never Can Say Goodbye” and more. Single B-sides “I Found That Girl” and “I’m So Happy” and such surprises as album cuts “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Zip A Dee Do Dah,” plus songs not released by the J5, including covers of James Brown’s “There Was a Time” and the Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing,” are part of the shows. The 1972 show also features a fantastic, full set of Michael’s solo hits, including “Got To Be There” and “Ben,” his brand new single at the time, as well as a solo spot by Jermaine.

Disc 1 includes the complete Forum show recorded June 20, 1970, when the group broke existing box office records at the venue. The J5 were on their first national tour, and the show is a unique document of the growing “Jacksonmania” gripping the globe. Disc 2 is the complete show from August 26, 1972, just three days before Michael’s 14th birthday. Each disc includes a bonus track: an unreleased full live version of “Mama’s Pearl,” from the concert that became part of the 1971 TV special Goin’ Back To Indiana, closes Disc 1; “I Wanna Be Where You Are,” from the soundtrack album to Save The Children, makes its CD debut at the end of Disc 2.

J5 Live @ The Forum is housed in a collector’s digi-pak with rare photos and insightful liner notes.

TRACK LIST
All tracks previously unreleased except noted *
Disc 1 – June 20, 1970
1. Introduction
2. I Want You Back
3. Feelin’ Alright
4. Who’s Lovin’ You
5. Walk On
6. Don’t Know Why I Love You
7. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
8. ABC
9. It’s Your Thing
10. I Found That Girl
11. There Was A Time
12. Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin
13. The Love You Save

Bonus Track
14. Mama’s Pearl Live in Indiana

Disc 2 – Back @ the Forum August 26, 1972
1. Brand New Thing
2. Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/Mama’s Pearl
3. Sugar Daddy
4. I’ll Be There
5. Introduction by Michael
6. Goin’ Back to Indiana/Brand New Thing/Goin’ Back to Indiana
7. Bridge Over Troubled Water
8. I Found That Girl
9. I’m So Happy
10. Lookin’ Through The Windows
11. Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing
12. Introduction by Jackie
13. Ben
14. Rockin’ Robin
15. Got To Be There
16. You’ve Got A Friend
17. Ain’t No Sunshine
18. I Wanna Be Where You Are
19. Introduction by Jermaine
20. That’s How Love Goes
21. Never Can Say Goodbye
22. Walk On
23. The Love You Save

Bonus Track
24. I Wanna Be Where You Are from “Save The Children” *

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

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