Also included in this Music News Blog: A Studio Album you may have missed out when it was first released- The Latest Studio Album from Barbara Streisand.
Avonmore is the fifthteenth studio album by the British singer Bryan Ferry, released in the United Kingdom on November 17th 2014.
The album was announced on September 23rd 2014 with a preview of the song Loop De Li. The album has been produced by Ferry with long-term collaborator Rhett Davis, who has produced several albums for Ferry and Roxy Music. The album also features Ferry regulars such as Fonzi Thornton, Nile Rodgers, Marcus Miller and Johnny Marr (who co-wrote the track ').The album includes two cover versions, a rendition of Stephen Sondheim's Send in The Clowns and a version of Johnny and Mary, originally by Robert Palmer.
Reception of the album was generally positive. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave 4 stars out of 5 to the album writing that 'this is Ferry's prime, a moment when his legacy was intact but yet to be preserved in amber' and that the album 'consciously evokes this distinct period, sometimes sighing into the exquisite ennui of Avalon but usually favouring the fine tailoring of Boys and Girls, a record where every sequenced rhythm, keyboard and guitar line blended into an alluring urbane pulse' and that 'the songs are what makes this record something more than a fling'. Popmatters critic John Paul wrote that the album 'functions as a well-deserved victory lap for both Ferry and those he's assembled, triumphantly returning to relevance and reminding listeners he's been doing this since the 70's. It's just taken this long for the mainstream to catch up with where he's been all along'. Writer T.Cole Rachel from Pitchfork Media was less positive, giving the album 6.7 out of 10, writing that the album, in places, 'flounders when the music, which routinely flirts with a kind of adult contemporary smoothness, leans over into blandness' and stating that 'Ferry's well-documented good taste is both an asset and possibly a curse' and concluding that the record is 'a fine addition to Bryan Ferry's oeuvre, if not necessarily a terribly challenging one'.
I am over-joyed that this new studio album by Bryan Ferry is getting the high praise and recognition it so richly deserves. The real blessing of this album is Bryan Ferry reuniting with producer Rhett Davis who has produced classic Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music studio albums in the past. It is both of their very incredible hard work in the recording studio, working on the Avonmore studio album, that has created an album that is a reflection of quintessential classic Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music's past.
The Avonmore album manages to sound classic and contemporary at the same time and that's the album's real saving grace.
What is even more incredible, is that it is the continuing relationship of Bryan Ferry and Rhett Davis that has been able to produce this incredible new studio album. Rhett Davis retired from music studio production in the 1990's, but has been collaborating with Ferry on albums like: Dlyanesque (2007) Olympia (2010) and The Jazz Age (2012).
It is about time the British Music Industry, gives Bryan Ferry the same kind of respect that David Bowie has been given throughout his music career.
Bran Ferry is one of the Finest Male British Vocalists of Cool and Sophisticated Pop Music that the United Kingdom has ever produced. His has definitely earned his due respects as one of British Popular Music's finest music stylists.
Tracklisting for Avonmore
All songs by Bryan Ferry except where indicated.
- Loop De Li
- Midnight Train
- Soldier of Fortune Bryan Ferry, (written with Johnny Mar)
- Driving Me Wild
- A Special Kind Of Guy
- Avonmore Bryan Ferry, (written with Oliver Thompson)
- Lost
- One Night Stand
- Send In the Clowns Stephen Sondheim
- Johnny and Mary Robert Palmer
Below is the music video for the first official single released from this new studio album from Bryan Ferry- for the music track, Loop De Li. The track was officially released on November 17th 2014.
Tell 'Em I'm Gone is the fourteenth studio album by Yusuf (formerly known as Cat Stevens). The album was released on October 27th 2014 by Legacy Recordings. It is Yusuf's third mainstream release since his return to music and his first one since 2009's acclaimed Roadsinger.
On the album cover, the singer is credited as 'Yusuf' with a promotional sticker identifying him also as 'Cat Stevens'.
On September 15th 2014, Yusuf/ Cat Stevens announced two upcoming short tours: a November 2014 ( 9-date) Europe tour and a December 2014 (6 date) North American tour, the later being his first one since 1976.
It really is Fantastic that Yusuf is making music in a way he used to as Cat Stevens. Give this album a listen, you will be richly awarded in your listening pleasures. Yusuf/Cat Stevens still (as a male vocalist) has one of the most distinctive voices in the whole history and evolution of British Popular Music.
Tracklisting of Tell 'Em I'm Gone
All songs are written by Yusuf except as indicated.
- I was Raised in Babylon
- Big Boss Man (Luther Dixon-Al Smith)
- Dying to Live (Edgar Winter)
- You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis-Charles Mitchell, arr.Yusuf)
- Editing Floor Blues
- Cat and the Dog Trap
- Gold Digger
- The Devil Came from Kansas (Gary Brooker-Keith Reid
- Tell 'Em I'm Gone (originally 'Take This Hammer', arr. Yusuf)
- Doors
Below you can see a video about the making of this incredible new studio album by Yusuf/Cat Stevens as well as an Audio Video of Yusuf take on the track You are My Sunshine, which is the 4th track on this new studio album.
What is incredible about You Are My Sunshine is how true it sounds like the Cat Stevens of the 1970's, not just in vocals but also studio production style. There is the old classic Cat Stevens style while at the same time reflecting on his deep faith as a Muslim, which for many years he has been reflecting on his studio albums as Yusuf Islam.
This Artist vocals have certainly not diminished over the periods of decades, in fact you could say he is sounding better than he ever has.
III is the seventh studio album by British pop band Take That. It is the band's first studio album in four years and the first to feature the band as a trio, following the departures of Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. The album is due for official release in Germany and Ireland on November 28th 2014 and an official release of December 1st 2014 for the United Kingdom. According to Gary Barlow, the album's sound is an 'amalgamation of the past eight year's' of Take That material.
Recording for the album began in January 2014, with Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen entering the studio as a trio, with the consent of Jason Orange, who was undecided at the time whether or not he wished to continue with the band. Barlow claims that the album was recorded with 'a big space' for Orange, as they had hoped he would change his mind and return to the band. At the time, Robbie Williams had stated that he may not be able to record as part of the group due to his tour commitments and the upcoming birth of his second child and was not present during the recording sessions.
In September 2014, Orange officially announced his departure from the band, and the band re-entered the studio to record the remaining parts which had been left for Orange. Donald claimed that the band did consider splitting up following Orange's departure, but decided against this and instead pressed on with recording the album. Owen said of the album,'It was quite downbeat, and we needed to change it to bring more energy to it. Then around May, the three of us locked ourselves down for two or three weeks and started to play with sounds, and for me that's when we started for real. The energy was more positive. Now it's one of our most upbeat records.' Barlow also said of the album, 'We're not writing a retirement record.'
These Days, the album's lead single, is described as 'something unlike anything the boys have ever written before'. The song was co-written by Jamie Norton and Ben Mark and produced by Greg Kurstin (Kay Perry, Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen). The song is described as a signature Kurstin song, featuring 'Chic-style funk guitar riffs and Pet Shop Boys style vocal effects.' as well as 'having pure pop written all over it'. 'Let in the Sun' is described as the likely second single from the album and a mix between Calvin Harris and Mumford & Sons. The song was produced by Stuart Price. Barlow described the song as a 'homage to the early years', Whilst Owen said it's 'the song your dad would write if he was trying to get down with the kids.'
If You Want It is described as '90's sounding pop banger with big production and an uplifting chorus', again produced by Kurstin. A line in the song, 'Everything could be a little bit brighter', is suggested to be a nod to the band's recent struggles. Barlow said that a video for the song could be reminiscent of the early Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Get Ready for It was written for the soundtrack of forthcoming Brit flick Kinsman: The Secret Service,(Official release for February 12th 2015) starring Colin Firth and Michael Caine. The song was produced by John Shanks and is described as 'loud' and 'euphoric' and 'unmistakably Take That', with a heavy drum introduction and a battle cry from Barlow. Early reviews suggest the song could match the success of the band's 2007 single Rule the World. The album also features production from Jeff Lynne, although it has not yet been announced which tracks he has worked on.
- These Days was released as the lead single from the album on November 14th 2014. The single premiered on BBC Radio 2 on October 10th 2014 and was then released to Vevo in the form of an audio video.
- Get Ready for It is scheduled to be the second single and will play during the credits of upcoming film Kingsman: The Secret Service.
The standard version of the album contains twelve tracks, while the deluxe edition boasts an additional three bonus tracks. A super-deluxe edition of the album released in a bespoke artwork box with five photographic prints, as well as being signed in limited quantities, is available from the band's official store. Google Play also secured the rights to an exclusive version of the album, which contains an additional three bonus tracks including a remix of These Days.
Tracklisting for III (Standard Edition)
- These Days
- Let in the Sun
- If You Want It
- Lovelife
- Portrait
- Higher than Higher
- I Like It
- Give You My Love
- Freeze
- Into the Wild
- Flaws
- Get Ready for It
III Deluxe Edition
13. Believe
14 Amazing
15. Do It All for Love
III Google Play Limited Edition
16. Fall Down at Your Feet
17. If It's Not Love
18. These Days ( Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Club Mix)
These Days is a song by British pop group Take That. It was released through Polydor Records on November 14th 2014 as the lead single from their seventh studio album, III (2014). The song was written by Take That and produced by Greg Kurstin. The single was the first to feature Take That as a trio following the departures of Jason Orange and Robbie Williams and features all three members singing joint lead vocal.
It became known early into the writing process that Jason Orange was unsure whether he would re-join the band for the new single and album. Mark Owen stated 'We've known for a while that Jay (Jason Orange) was like, 'I don't know if I'm doing this or not' he says. As time went on Gary Barlow admitted that the band had 'hit the point where we could do nothing else' and began writing music with Orange's blessing'. The band then went to Los Angeles in May 2014 and locked themselves in a room 'for two or three weeks and started to play with sounds' resulting in a much more upbeat energetic song which later became These Days. Take That later played Orange These Days who 'loved it'.
The video for These Days was based on a concept from Mark which they shot through until the early hours of two days. The music video begins with Take That in bed together before they wake up and get ready for the day ahead. The video shows the band getting spray tanned (a homage to Jason Orange), getting perm haircuts and performing in an empty church while the congregation dance around them. The video described by Mark Owen as fun and tongue in cheek. A source close to the boys said: 'It was a three day shoot put into two days so they worked really hard. It was a bonus they didn't have to dress up too much and could stay in the clothes they wore to sleep in!'
Take That performed These Days for the first time live on The X Factor on November 23rd 2013. They also performed the song on The Graham Norton Show on November 2014.
The single received positive reviews upon its first airplay with Neil McCormick of The Telegraph calling it 'uplifting' and 'fun and fuzzy comeback'. He concluded stating 'There is enough hook-laden chutzpah about this comeback to suggest these unlikely survivors of British pop are about to triumph again. If you didn't actually know someone had left the band, you would never guess from listening to 'These Days', although there might just be a message to the deserter in the opening line: 'I can see the future coming to you crying with a sadness in your eyes'. The Independent called These Days 'an upbeat and energetic dance track with the carpe diem theme rolled out by many an artist: 'Tonight we gotta live for/ We gotta live for these days/Tonight, tonight, we'll remember/We'll remember these days.' There is also perhaps a sense of nostalgia in the song, as the originally five-strong band sings: 'Take me back/ To where it all began.' They conclude that 'the lyrics also express a desire to rejuvenate the sound of their heady Nineties heyday. All three- Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen-share vocal duties on the song, a nod to the sound that defined their early years and out-and-out feel-good pop'.
Take That's New Single and Music Video is probably the most upbeat fun single and music video the group have ever released. Music Video Director Henry Scholfield directed the incredible music video for These Days. His use of bright colours with pastel colours in this music video reminds me of Yoann Lemoine's use of colours in Pharrell Williams music video for the track Happy (2013) and Mark Romanek's use of colours for Taylor Swift recent music video, for her single: Shake It Off (2014). Both of these videos seem similar to the These Days music video in style and content.
This new music video by Take That is incredibly stunning and I for one hope it gets some recognition at music video award shows.
So below you can see the incredible music video for Take That's first official single from this new studio album; for the track: These Days.
Big Music is the sixteenth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds. The new studio album was officially released on October 31st 2014 by Sony Music. Honest Town was released as the lead single on October 10th 2014. The album was available to stream from October 28th 2014.
During the recording of Simple Mind's previous studio album Graffiti Soul (2009), Jim Kerr stated 'We really are flowing with ideas at the moment and ... I do feel that we are possibly writing two albums simultaneously at present. Several tracks were omitted from Graffiti Soul so that the album had more focus. Possible candidates include Six Degrees Of Separation, Lotus Effect and Shaman.
According to Simple Minds lead singer Jim Kerr, Big Music has lots of power and passion, urgency and momentum, adding 'it is energetic, it's got a raw power and a lot of vitality'.
For the songs that have been included on this new studio album: Blood Diamonds and Broken Glass Park was originally released in March 2013 on Celebrate: The Greatest Hits in another version. Let the Day Begin is a cover of the 1989 song by The Call. Swimming Towards the Sun was originally released on 'Our Secrets Are the Same' Album (As part of their 5cd Silver Box Set-2004). Riders on the Storm is a cover of the 1971 song by The Doors. Dancing Barefoot is a cover of the 1979 song by Patti Smith.
The Title song Big Music was intended to be the first single but the idea was dropped. On September 23rd 2014, Simple Minds announced that the first play of their new single Honest Town was released as the lead single on October 10th 2014.
Upon its release, Big Music received generally positive reviews from music critics. The review aggregator website, Metacritic assigns a 'Metascore' to each album, which is based on the ratings and reviews of selected mainstream independent publications and the release has a score of a 76 based on 7 selected critics, indicating 'generally favourable reviews'. The Guardian rated the album three stars out of five, commentating that 'the band have managed to craft an five, commenting that 'the band hand managed to craft an album of pop that's both true to their sound and interesting enough to give it a contemporary edge.'
In the United Kingdom, Big Music debuted at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart. The album sold 10,207 copies in its first week and became the group's 17th top 75 album.
Tracklisting for Big Music.
- Blindfolded
- Midnight Walking
- Honest Town
- Big Music
- Human
- Blood Diamonds
- Let the Day Begin
- Concrete and Cherry Blossom
- Imagination
- Kill or Cure
- Broken Glass Park
- Spirited Away
Deluxe edition- Disc 2
13. Swimming Towards the Sun
14. Bittersweet
15. Liaison
16. Rider on the Storm
17. Dancing Barefoot
18. Blindfolded (reprise)
Deluxe edition - iTunes Store bonus tracks
19. Blindfolded (video)
20 Honest Town (video)
21 Album Interview (video)
Deluxe edition- DVD
- Honest Town (video)
- Blindfolded (video)
- Let the Day Begin (clip)
- Human (clip)
- Midnight Walking (clip)
- Behind the Scenes
- Band Interviews
Editions
- Double vinyl edition as a heavyweight black vinyl in wide spine sleeve with printed inner sleeves
- Limited edition deluxe box-set also including the original album, a DVD and a poster and booklet in foil-blocked box.
Below is the music video for the 1st Official single released from Big Music, the track Honest Town.
What is very interesting about Simple Minds new studio album is how the band seem to be returning to that pop-rock 1980's formula of their hit-making days. The formula that established them as one of the finest rock groups to come out of Scotland since the post-punk era.
Simple Minds in the 1990's took on even more sonic soundscapes in their music, being very much compared to what U2 were creating in the recording studio.
Simple Minds began their career a year after U2 in 1977, and at the beginning (compared to U2)were very much regarded as a pop group.
Ever since the 1980', Jim Kerr as a song lyricist, has always badged his Jim Morrison (Doors comparisons) firmly on his sleeve in showing us the double meaning of rock lyrics. His lyrics always seems to be searching for the deeper-dimensional meanings of life. What is interesting about the Blindfolded music video is how (for probably the first time in a Simple Minds music video) Jim Kerr meaning of life dimension are given the full visual treatments of his lyrics. This visionary aspect is shown throughout this whole music video, without one human being seen through this whole music video. From what Jim Kerr has always given us as listeners and viewers in Simple Mind's, songs and music videos, this particular music video makes perfect sense. This song is very reminiscent of Simple Minds 1980's heyday.
As I have said before, Simple Minds at the very beginning of their career were regarded very much as a pop group and what is interesting about the music video for Broken Glass Park ( which was released as the Greatest Hits package) is how the music video show scenes from the very beginning of their music career. This music video is a visual feast for ANY Simple Minds fan. Like the Blindfolded track, Broken Glass Park is also very reminiscent of Simple Minds music in the 1980's.
I have also included the music videos below for Blindfolded and Broken Glass Park.
Partners is the thirty-fourth studio album by Barbara Streisand, officially released in September 16th 2014. The album features Streisand singing duets with an all-male line-up including Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble,Billy Joel, John Legend, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Lionel Richie and the late Elvis Presley. The collection also features Streisand's first studio-recorded duet with her now 47 year old son, Jason Gould. The album release was promoted on The Tonight Show, where Streisand was the evening's sole guest and sang a medley with host Jimmy Fallon.
While the recordings are new, most of the songs have a previous history as Streisand releases. Two classic Streisand duets are updated with new partners: What Kind of Fool, newly performed with John Legend (originally with Barry Gibb) and Lost Inside of You ,newly performed with Babyface (originally with Kris Kristofferson). The deluxe edition features an additional duet with Babyface along with previously released material featuring Frank Sinatra, Bryan Adams, Barry Manilow and Barry Gibb.
Partners topped the Billboard 200 with sales of 196,00 copies in the first week, making Streisand the only recording artist to have a number-one album in the 1960's, 1970's, 1980',1990's, 2000's and 2010's. It was also certified gold in November 2014, thus becoming Streisand's 52nd gold record, more than any other female artist in history.
After selling 196,000 copies in its first week, it fell to number three the following week, selling 127,000 copies, the lowest second-week decline for a number one-debuting non-compilation album in nearly four years. After just six weeks on sale, the album crossed half a million in US sales, having sold 526,000 copies total in the country.
In Canada and Australia, the album also reached number one, selling 13,000 copies in each country. In the Netherlands, New Zealand and UK, the album reached the number two spot on national sales charts, becoming Streisand's highest charting album in the Netherlands since One Voice peaked at the same position in 1987. In Ireland the album reached the number six position, becoming Streisand's highest charting album since Guilty Pleasures in 2005. The album debuted in the Top 10 in Austria, Germany, Spain and Poland and reached Top 40 positions in Belgium (both regions), Denmark, Italy and Switzerland.
Tracklisting for Partners Duet Partner
- It had to be You Michael Buble
- People Stevie Wonder
- Come Rain or Come Shine John Mayer
- Evergreen Babyface
- New York State of Mind Billy Joel
- I'd Want It to Be You Blake Shelton
- The Way We Were Lionel Richie
- I Still Can See Your Face Andrea Bocelli
- How Deep Is the Ocean Jason Gould
- What Kind of Fool John Legend
- Somewhere Josh Groban
- Love Me Tender Elvis Presley
Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
13 Lost Inside of You (2014,previously unreleased) Babyface
14 I've Got a Crush on You (1993, Duets ) Frank Sinatra
15 I Finally Found Someone (1996, The Mirror has Two Faces soundtrack) Bryan Adams
16 Won't Be the One to Let Go (2002, Duets) Barry Manilow
17 Guilty (1980, Guilty) Barry Gibb
Below you can see a video about the making of this incredible new studio album by Barbra Streisand, plus videos of four of the artists on the album: Stevie Wonder, Michal Buble, Lionel Richie and Josh Groban who each describe their contributions to the Partners album.
Happy Music Buying and Listening Folks!
Roger Howard. 01/12/2014
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