In 1997, Scottish indie pop band Bis made a memorable appearance on ABC Australia’s popular music show Recovery. During the interview, the trio discussed their unique sound, DIY ethos, and the journey that led them to international recognition through their records on the Beastie Boy-owned label Grand Royal.
“Trucker’s Special” Commercial From 1987: A Five-Album Collection of Trucking Anthems for Just $19.95
In 1987, the “Trucker’s Special” hit the shelves as a must-have collection for country music lovers and trucking enthusiasts alike. This five-album set, priced at just $19.95, featured a curated selection of songs celebrating the life and spirit of truckers on the open road, featuring the ever-present Red Sovine.
Manic Street Preachers Make Their TV Debut with “Strip It Down” on ITV’s Transmission In 1990
In 1990, the Manic Street Preachers burst onto the television scene with a powerful performance of “Strip It Down” on ITV’s Transmission. Marking their first-ever TV appearance, the band delivered an electrifying set that captured the raw energy and rebellious spirit they would soon become known for. This performance was a defining moment in the early days of the Manics, setting the stage for their rise as one of the most influential bands of the ’90s.
Marc Almond of Soft Cell Bakes Mince Pies on TV in the 1980s
In a delightful and unexpected moment from the 1980s, Marc Almond, the charismatic frontman of Soft Cell, traded the microphone for an apron as he appeared on TV to bake mince pies. Known for hits like “Tainted Love,” Almond surprised fans by showcasing his culinary skills in this charming television segment. This rare glimpse into the singer’s off-stage life reveals a softer side of the iconic performer, blending pop culture with a touch of festive fun.
Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Steve O’Rourke Compete in the 1992 La Carrera Panamericana Vintage Car Race
In a thrilling blend of music and motorsport, Pink Floyd members David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and their manager Steve O’Rourke took part in the 1992 La Carrera Panamericana, a legendary vintage car race held in Mexico. Captured on LaserDisc, this rare footage showcases the band members navigating the intense race, set against the backdrop of Pink Floyd’s iconic music. This unique event highlights their passion for cars and the spirit of adventure, offering fans a fascinating glimpse into a lesser-known chapter of the band’s history.
Neil Young To Release Four Classic Titles Freedom, Ragged Glory, Weld, and Arc From The Official Release Series Volume 5
The music of Neil Young is not ruled by calendars or convention. Since Young’s first solo album in 1968, his sonic trajectory has always been what he feels is necessary to carry him forward. All the original releases and now official reissues are a journey of discovery. It sometimes feels like there is not a difference between the past, the present and the future. The music all lives together.
In July of 2023, Young released the OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES VOLUME 5, a stunning collection comprised of four classic albums, on vinyl and CD, that begins with the exciting renaissance that came with the release of FREEDOM in 1989, and continues on the unequaled exploration of collections RAGGED GLORY (1990), WELD (1991) and ARC (1991). In many ways, it is a musical travelogue of how Young saw the future and opened up creative worlds for the use of sound and originality which had not been used before.
Today, each of these titles from ORS 5 will become available once again as stand-alone albums on both vinyl and CD. When these four albums were released in the box set last July, it was the first time they had been remastered for vinyl.
All formats will be available at the Greedy Hand Store at Neil Young Archives (NYA) and music retailers everywhere. Hi-res digital audio will be available at Neil Young Archives and most DSPs. All Greedy Hand Store purchases come with free hi-res digital audio downloads from the Xstream Store © at NYA.
In Neil Young’s extensive career, this period of music came at a definite turning point. The 1990s were almost ready to start, and Young had recently returned to his long-time home at Reprise Records. It definitely appeared to be a joyous and jubilant moment for the man who had recently celebrated the 21-year anniversary of a solo career that had never stopped progressing. The first album from that series is aptly named FREEDOM, and includes the song “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
RAGGED GLORY (1990) was a non-stop celebration for the music Neil Young & Crazy Horse are still creating at full force, and was recorded at Young’s Broken Arrow Ranch in Northern California. The 10 song original album is expanded for this re-issue with 4 rare tracks. “Interstate” and “Don’t Spook The Horse” were both b-sides to singles. “Box Car” and the 12 minute “Born To Run” were both previously unreleased versions prior to release in the ORS 5 box. The 4 additional songs have resulted with the album expanded to 3 LPs and 2 CDs. The album was remastered from the original analogue tapes.
WELD (1991) is one of the most groundbreaking albums of Neil Young’s history. It’s a live album recorded with Crazy Horse after the release of RAGGED GLORY. It was from a wildly creative period of the band’s history, and as Neil Young has often done, gave notice that he was a rock & roll originator who could never be second-guessed.
ARC (1991) is the live companion collection to WELD, and at the time generated the kind of musical notoriety that has often marked Young’s creations. ARC is a 3-minute outburst of feedback, improvisation, guitar solos and vocal fragments. When released in the ORS 5 box, it marked the album’s first release on vinyl.
Track listings:
FREEDOM
“Rockin’ In The Free World” (Live Acoustic)
“Crime In The City (Sixty to Zero Part 1)”
“Don’t Cry”
“Hangin’ On A Limb”
“Eldorado”
“The Ways of Love”
“Someday”
“On Broadway”
“Wrecking Ball”
“No More”
“Too Far Gone”
“Rockin’ In The Free World” (Electric)
RAGGED GLORY – Smell The Horse
“Country Home”
“White Line”
“Fuckin’ Up”
“Over and Over”
“Love to Burn”
“Farmer John”
“Mansion on the Hill”
“Days That Used To Be”
“Love and Only Love”
“Mother Earth (National Anthem)”
“Interstate”
“Don’t Spook The Horse”
“Box Car”
“Born To Run”
WELD
“Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)”
“Crime in the City”
“Blowin’ in the Wind”
“Welfare Mothers”
“Love to Burn”
“Cinnamon Girl”
“Mansion on the Hill”
“Fuckin’ Up”
“Cortez the Killer”
“Powderfinger”
“Love and Only Love”
“Rockin’ in the Free World”
“Like A Hurricane”
“Farmer John”
“Tonight’s the Night”
“Roll Another Number”
ARC
“Arc (A Compilation Composition)”
Freedom, Ragged Glory/Smell The Horse, Weld and Arc all take their proper place now in the career-exploration march of a true adventurer, both in the music he makes and the care and consideration in how it is presented to the public. Even with all the achievements and advancement in sound, it still feels like things are just getting started.
David Bowie’s Iconic Album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ Debuts in Dolby Atmos with Newly Unveiled Footage from the Ziggy Stardust Tour
Parlophone Records is proud to announce the first ever Dolby Atmos spatial audio version of DAVID BOWIE’s THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS making its debut in Dolby Atmos spatial audio. The new mix of the album will be available on Blu-Ray Audio on 6th September here.
The Blu-Ray audio disc of THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS features four iterations of this timeless album: 2024 Dolby Atmos mix, 2024 Stereo Mix (96 khz / 24-bit pcm), original 1972 Stereo Mix – 2012 remaster (192 khz / 24-bit pcm), original 1972 Stereo Mix – 2012 remaster (48 khz / 24-bit pcm). The Atmos version of the album was mixed by Emre Ramazanoglu and Ken Scott at RAK Studios, London.
Ahead of the release, spectacular previously unseen footage from the Ziggy Stardust tour shot in the UK during 1972 and 1973 by late Bowie collaborator & photographer Mick Rock has been revealed, featuring the album version of “Starman” as its soundtrack.
Of this new Dolby Atmos mix the album’s co-producer, Ken Scott says “You’re in there with the act, with David. He was so theatrical I think being able to put him into an immersive place makes this a really good choice for an Atmos mix. My whole philosophy with this has been to make it more like a live experience. And I’ve even got him moving about the stage a little towards the end, the way he would have in real life. Hopefully it just feels as if you’re in the theatre with this amazing show going on.”
THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS is the breakthrough album that catapulted David Bowie into the international spotlight. Over the past 50 years it has remained a touchstone record, growing in stature with each passing year. It is now ingrained in popular culture, its undeniable influence spanning musicians from Arcade Fire to Lady Gaga, to Harry Styles’s androgynous fashion sense to Noel Fielding’s shirts on The Great British Bake-Off to Ziggy make-up challenges on Tik-Tok. David Bowie laid to rest the Ziggy Stardust persona in July 1973 at his infamous last show with the Spiders From Mars at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, but Ziggy’s impact reverberates to this day.
DAVID BOWIE” THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
BLU-RAY AUDIO
Five Years – 4:42
Soul Love – 3:34
Moonage Daydream – 4:40
Starman – 4:10
It Ain’t Easy – 2:58
Lady Stardust – 3:22
Star – 2:47
Hang On To Yourself – 2:40
Ziggy Stardust – 3:13
Suffragette City – 3:25
Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide – 2.58
2024 DOLBY ATMOS MIX
2024 STEREO MIX (96 KHZ / 24-BIT PCM)
ORIGINAL 1972 STEREO MIX – 2012 REMASTER (192 KHZ / 24-BIT PCM)
ORIGINAL 1972 STEREO MIX – 2012 REMASTER (48 KHZ / 24-BIT PCM)
Waverley, Nova Scotia’s Maggie Andrew takes CBC Music’s 2024 Searchlight Grand Prize
CBC today announced alt-pop, singer-songwriter Maggie Andrew from Waverley, Nova Scotia as the Grand Prize winner of CBC MUSIC’S SEARCHLIGHT 2024 contest. Artists in every province and territory submitted an application including an original song for consideration and the panel of judges awarded the top spot to Maggie Andrew.
“Winning Searchlight is a really incredible feeling, in a way it still hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Maggie Andrew. “There are so many people around me who have helped and continue to help bring my visions to life and without them I know I wouldn’t be here right now. I’m really excited! Searchlight this year was filled with so many talented artists, ones who I am lucky to call friends and others that I admire very much. I’m feeling a lot of gratitude and truly just happy to be here.”
Andrew has gained notice for her edgy alternative pop, collecting over 6 million combined streams on her music and has received several accolades including the 2024 ECMA African Canadian Artist of the Year award and the SOCAN x Sirius XM Young Canadian Songwriters Award in 2021. She was also a finalist in CBC Music’s Searchlight last year, making the Top 10.
In addition, four winning acts in the special SEARCHLIGHT 2024 categories are: winner of the Outstanding Country Artist category, Amanda Jordan from Smiths Falls, ON; winner of the Outstanding Indigenous Artist category, pop singer-songwriter Dee Dee Austin from Fall River, NS; winner of the Songwriting Prize category punk group NOBRO from Montreal, QC; and 16-year-old pop artist Summer Bennett from Paradise, NL takes the Top Teen category.
As part of the Grand Prize, Maggie Andrew will take part in the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class talent development program, receive a residency at the National Music Centre in Calgary courtesy of Partake Brewing, a Yangaroo Music DMDS music and video promotion package and $1,000 from Long & McQuade towards the purchase of music equipment.
Fast-Rising Artist Diamond Cafe Announces North American Headlining ‘Sex Love Color’ Tour
Diamond Cafe is a must see live who’s been selling out shows, and impressing crowds alongside the likes of Teddy Swims & TALK – today he announces his headlining North American tour, the Sex Love Color tour, this fall with stops in Brooklyn, LA, Chicago, Seattle, Toronto and more!
Fans won’t want to miss the electric energy Diamond Cafe has been delivering all year. Impressing audiences with his wild shows, he started his summer by kicking-off the main stage at the 50,000+ crowd at Quebec City’s Festival D’Ete. “We’re still trying to recover from the high-energy performer…” reviewed Radio-Canada, and had Range raving, “it was opener Diamond Cafe, a funk-pop newcomer originally hailing from Victoria, BC, who ended up being one of the most surprising revelations of the weekend. With a 24-carat voice and on-stage swagger to match, it’s only a matter of time before Diamond Cafe is shining bright enough for the rest of the world to take notice.” Pre-sale starts tomorrow, Wednesday, August 28 and GA available Thursday. Tickets can be found here.
Diamond has been teasing new music and gearing up to drop his anticipated next single “Sweet Cherry” next week – pre-save here.
Tour Dates
Oct 21 – Montreal, QC – Cabaret Lion d’Or
Oct 22 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere
Oct 23 – Toronto, ON – Adelaide Hall
Oct 24 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
Oct 27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
Oct 29 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
Nov 1 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Nov 6 – Calgary, AB – Commonwealth
Nov 7 – Edmonton, AB – Temple
Nov 10 – Winnipeg, MB – Sidestage
About Diamond Cafe Named Amazon Music’s Artist To Watch for 2024 and hailed by Pitchfork as a “Pop-Funk Prodigy,” Diamond Cafe creates polished R&B and funky synth-pop that transports listeners to another era. His powerful vocals and impeccable falsetto, reminiscent of a church choir, offer soul-stirring harmonies that immediately capture attention. Throughout 2023, Diamond made a name for himself by cultivating a devoted fanbase, selling out numerous live shows, and releasing Diamond Cuts, a collection of remastered versions of his independently released fan-favorite tracks. He has garnered support from notable figures such as Zack Fox, Anderson .Paak, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, PNAU, and the legendary El DeBarge (“Rhythm Of the Night”), who joined him on stage for a duet during his sold-out debut show in LA. In an industry saturated with manufactured and auto-tuned music, Diamond stands out from the crowd.
k.d. lang and Gilles Godard Celebrated in New Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibition
The National Music Centre (NMC) is proud to announce the launch of a new temporary exhibition in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®). Treasured Alberta singer-songwriter k.d. lang and renowned Ontario-born industry builder Gilles Godard will be featured in the updated Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame exhibition, set to open on September 11 in Calgary. Coinciding with the kick-off of Country Music Week in Edmonton from September 11-14, where both inductees will be celebrated, the exhibition will showcase a collection of memorabilia that reflects the remarkable careers and contributions of these two Canadian icons.
Artist inductee k.d. lang, known for her distinctive voice, playful attitude, and genre-defying music, has left an unforgettable mark on the world of country music and beyond. With many awards and accolades, including four GRAMMY awards, eight JUNO Awards, 10 CCMA Awards, a BRIT Award, an AMA, a VMA, four awards from GLAAD, and the Order of Canada, lang’s contributions have transcended borders and genres, making her a true Canadian original. The exhibition showcases memorabilia, instruments, and outfits that belonged to lang, highlighting her eclectic style and the evolution of her career. Featuring thrift-store finds, Nudie Suits, clothing designed for her hit songs, “Miss Chatelaine” and “Constant Craving,” and items that have never been displayed before, such as a hand-made diorama made for the cover of lang’s 1987 album with the Reclines, Angel With A Lariat, the display captures her journey from a rising star in the 1980s to a celebrated icon.
“It’s such an honour to be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and I’m thrilled to have some of my favourite outfits on display at the National Music Centre,” said k.d. lang. “These items represent so many meaningful moments in my career, and I love having a place for my fans to see them showcased. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a deeply humbling experience, and I’m grateful to be celebrated alongside so many incredible artists.”
Stan Klees Builder inductee Gilles Godard has been a driving force in the music industry for over five decades, and currently serves as President of Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. A publishing powerhouse, he played a key role in acquiring the Jody Williams Music catalog, which includes copyrights for several songs by Taylor Swift; the Better Angels Catalog, featuring Cody Johnson’s 2023 GRAMMY award-winning #1 hit single, “Til You Can’t,” and many more. As an accomplished musician, songwriter, record producer, record label founder and music publishing executive, with over 400 songs recorded by various artists, he has helped shape the careers of many prominent artists, earning him a well-deserved place in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
“To work in an industry that I absolutely love and that I am still passionate about is a true blessing,” said Gilles Godard. “To receive this honour is simply amazing considering everyone who opened the doors and helped me find my way here!”
Visitors will get to know Godard’s impact through photos, storytelling, and displays of some of his awards, including a 1986 RPM Big Country Award for Top Country Producer, bestowed to him while still in his 20s, and a 2017 RIAA Diamond Album Award for over 10 million sales of Taylor Swift’s Grammy-winning album, Fearless.
“National Music Centre is proud to highlight the remarkable careers of k.d. lang and Gilles Godard in this special exhibition, timed perfectly with the excitement surrounding the CCMA Awards presented by TD in Edmonton,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, NMC. “One of NMC’s first major exhibitions at Studio Bell – and one of its most popular – featured many of k.d. lang’s stage outfits. We’re excited to dive into k.d.’s archive, and bring some of those outfits out once again, along with some items that have not been displayed before. Gilles Godard has also loaned us some extraordinary pieces for the exhibition that capture his pivotal role in discovering and nurturing talent and securing influential music catalogs. After the CCMA Awards presented by TD wrap in Edmonton, we hope country fans from across Alberta and Canada make the trip to Calgary to check out the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame that is permanently housed in our province.”
“k.d. lang’s groundbreaking artistry and Gilles Godard’s visionary contributions have both elevated and shaped country music, not just in Canada, but globally,” said Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “We’re thrilled to celebrate their legacies and their impact on our country music community with this new exhibition in partnership with the National Music Centre.”
As the official permanent home of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, National Music Centre is the custodian of more than 2,000 artifacts (textiles, instruments, and photos) within the CCMHF collection. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history and legacy of Canadian country music, the exhibition incorporates items from the 2024 inductees, as well as past honourees including Terri Clark, Paul Brandt, Anne Murray, Hank Snow, Michelle Wright, Ian Tyson, and many others. Also newly added to the exhibition this year is an interactive that encourages visitors to sit down and play along with a Hall of Fame artist.
The updated Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame exhibition will be open to the public from September 11 to August 2025 at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. For more information on hours and admission, visit studiobell.ca/general-admission.