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Craft Recordings Announces Reissue for Brenton Wood’s 18 Best

Eric Alper
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Craft Recordings Announces Reissue for Brenton Wood’s 18 Best

Craft Recordings announces a reissue for Brenton Wood’s 18 Best, a celebrated collection of the soul singer’s classic songs. The October 4th release will feature his most famous tracks, including the career-defining “Oogum Boogum” and “Gimme Little Sign,” as well as “Baby You Got It”—a trio of hits he released in the 1960s. Available for pre-order today, Brenton Wood’s 18 Best will be released on CD as well as vinyl for the first time and for a limited-time, fans can pick up the album on two special colorways: “Lemonade” (via CraftRecordings.com) or “Baby Blue” (via RSD Essentials). Stream on all major platforms today.

Raised in Southern California (first San Pedro, then Compton) as Alfred Jesse Smith, the singer would later change his name to Brenton Wood, speculated by many to be a nod to Los Angeles’ moneyed Brentwood neighborhood. He played piano as a child and, inspired by his idols, soul icon Sam Cooke and doo-wop great Jesse Belvin, performed in a few vocal groups before forging out on his own.

In 1967, the aspiring singer would make good on his dreams of becoming a star after signing to Double Shot Records and releasing the plucky-sweet “Oogum Boogum.” NPR once commented, “It’s hard to be in a bad mood after you hear the ‘Oogum Boogum Song’ . . . there’s something about the feeling. That almost playful falsetto, the drums bouncing along, the jangly guitar hits.”

The single was a runaway hit, reaching No.34 on Billboard’s pop chart and No.19 on its R&B chart. Timeless in its appeal, “Oogum Boogum” would go on to appear, decades later, on soundtracks for films such as Almost Famous and Don’t Worry Darling, as well as on TV series like Sex Education and The Umbrella Academy. A few months after that single’s success, Wood released “Gimme Little Sign,” his buoyant, heady love song that soared to No.9 on Billboard’s pop chart and No.19 on its R&B chart. The single sold more than one million copies worldwide.

At this point, Wood, who released both tunes on his debut album, Oogum Boogum, became synonymous with his upbeat affirmations about love, which AllMusic once praised for their “charmingly unpredictable phrasing and his infectious sense of good times.” The album Baby You Got It followed, with its title-track standout, a shimmering song that once again makes fine use of his falsetto and hit No.34 on Billboard’s pop chart. During this prolific era, the singer cut eleven 45s in total.

One of those tracks, “Me and You,” deserves a shoutout for Wood’s effortless use of smooth doo-wop. And another, “Catch You on the Rebound,” would become a lowrider-soul classic popularized by Latino fans. “These days,” the LA Times noted in 1992, “the veteran performer’s fortunes rest in East LA and other Mexican-American strongholds.” Wood, who has released six albums in total and found renewed popularity in the 1980s by touring lowrider festivals. “In the world of East Side Story compilations and dropped Chevy Fleetlines,” NPR writes, “he’s basically Bruce Springsteen.”

Click here to pre-order or stream now.

Track Listing (Vinyl):

Side A

  1. Gimme Little Sign
  2. Oogum Boogum
  3. Baby You Got It
  4. I Think You’ve Got Your Fools Mixed Up
  5. Great Big Bundle Of Love
  6. I’m The One Who Knows
  7. Lovey Dovery Kind Of Love
  8. Can You Dig It
  9. Whoop It On Me

Side B

  1. Take A Chance
  2. Catch You On The Rebound
  3. Me And You
  4. I Like The Way You Love Me
  5. Darlin’
  6. Where Were You
  7. Two Time Loser
  8. Sad Little Songs
  9. Good Night Baby

Track Listing (CD):

  1. Gimme Little Sign
  2. Oogum Boogum
  3. Baby You Got It
  4. I Think You’ve Got Your Fools Mixed Up
  5. Great Big Bundle Of Love
  6. I’m The One Who Knows
  7. Lovey Dovery Kind Of Love
  8. Can You Dig It
  9. Whoop It On Me
  10. Take A Chance
  11. Catch You On The Rebound
  12. Me And You
  13. I Like The Way You Love Me
  14. Darlin’
  15. Where Were You
  16. Two Time Loser
  17. Sad Little Songs
  18. Good Night Baby

Hawthorne Heights’ The Silence in Black and White Gets 20th Anniversary Deluxe 2-LP Vinyl Reissue

Eric Alper
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Hawthorne Heights’ The Silence in Black and White Gets 20th Anniversary Deluxe 2-LP Vinyl Reissue

Craft Recordings celebrates the 20th anniversary of The Silence in Black and White—the electrifying debut from Hawthorne Heights, with a deluxe vinyl reissue. Set for release on November 22, this limited-edition 2-LP set features the rock band’s signature hit “Ohio Is for Lovers,” plus such enduring fan-favorites as “Niki FM” and “Silver Bullet,” in addition to a host of live recordings, demos and other bonus tracks (all originally featured on the 2005 deluxe edition of the album). A gatefold jacket also includes a double-sided insert, new artwork, plus updated liner notes, in which the band reflects on the album and their two decades together.

In addition to classic black vinyl, The Silence in Black and White is available for pre-order in several exclusive colorways, including “Black and White Split” (hawthorneheights.com), “Dissolve Clear” (ziarecords.com), and “Decay” (craftrecordings.com and victoryrecords.com). The band’s Spotify followers will be able to pre-order a limited-edition “Silver Bullet” variant via Spotify Fans First starting on September 3rd.

Formed in Dayton, OH in 2001, Hawthorne Heights exploded onto the alt-rock scene with their captivating blend of pop punk, hardcore, and emo. After releasing an album and an EP under their original name, A Day in the Life, the band caught the attention of Victory Records—the storied rock, metal, punk and hardcore label, which boasts Thursday, Between the Buried and Me and Taking Back Sunday among its legendary alumni. Victory Records was acquired by Concord in 2019, while its influential catalog, which spans over three decades, is managed by Craft Recordings.

Weeks after signing to Victory, the five-piece—which, at the time, included lead vocalist/guitarist JT Woodruff, guitarist Micah Carli, guitarist/unclean vocalist Casey Calvert, bassist/backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli—entered Madison, WI’s hallowed Smart Studios (owned by Butch Vig and home to classic recordings by Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Garbage) to record their debut as Hawthorne Heights, The Silence in Black and White. Working with producer Sean O’Keefe (Fall Out Boy, Plain White T’s, Motion City Soundtrack), the band drew from personal experiences—as well as some of their favorite films—for the album’s 11 anthemic and emotion-filled tracks.

“A lot of the lyrics were inspired by the feeling of being by yourself,” explained Woodruff in a 2014 interview with Killthemusic.com. “Everyone feels isolated to a degree, because we all have to live inside our own minds. Whether we are locked in a small town, struggling in a big city, trapped in a dead-end job, or raised in a harmful environment…we all have to deal with isolation.” He continued, “The album was meant to sound bleak, desolate, sad, but hopeful. It was meant to show that music can be a guiding light, in a world in which the arrow is constantly pointed downward.”

Reflecting those themes are songs like “Silver Bullet,” named for Woodruff’s favorite ’80s horror film, and written while he was attending college, working two jobs, and devoting the rest of his time to the band—often second-guessing if they would ever make it. Such uncertainties also feature prominently in “Wake Up Call,” in which Woodruff speaks to the vulnerability that comes with putting songs out into the world. “People are either going to love something or hate it these days,” he wrote in the album’s original liner notes. “I wish there was no such thing as a critic, but I myself am one.” Similarly, “Niki FM” (the music video for which was inspired by the classic teen flick, Say Anything), speaks to the relationship between artists and music journalists. The band also touches upon the highs and lows of life on the road in the emotive “Life on Standby,” while “Ohio Is for Lovers,” which became Hawthorne Heights’ signature tune, found the group yearning for their significant others while on tour.

The latter song became the band’s signature hit—earning regular airplay on MTV, breaking the Top 40 of Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart, and earning a Gold certification from the RIAA. The Silence in Black and White, released in June 2004, found similar success—topping Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, peaking at No.3 and No.23 on the Independent and Rock Albums charts, respectively, and landing at No.56 on the Billboard 200. In addition to earning a Gold certification, The Silence in Black and Whitealso became a landmark title for Victory, as the label’s highest-selling debut album at the time.

Yahoo! Music praised, “[These] punks aren’t afraid of adding a little riffage to their attack arsenal. But while the riffs hurl fast and furious…the band still centers around sentiment.” AllMusic praised their “catchy choruses,” while Alternative Press ranked “Ohio Is for Lovers” at number 88 on their “Best 100 Singles from the 2000s” roundup. An enduring album in the emo canon, The Silence in Black and White remains one of Hawthorne Heights’ bestselling albums—and a beloved fan favorite. In 2014, owing to the LP’s popularity, the band recorded an acoustic version of The Silence in Black and White. Perhaps most importantly, however, the album launched Hawthorne Heights’ lengthy career.

Reflecting on The Silence in Black and White in the LP’s new liner notes, the band writes: “It is impossible to articulate into any language what the last 20 years have meant to us, and how our fans have helped us grow into adults, while living our most wildest dreams…. We think that the art truly begins when we start to build and develop relationships with our fans, and learn who they are and why these songs have helped them. The stories you have told us are equally important to the ones we’ve shared with you, which is exactly why 20 years feels so special.”

They continue, “Hawthorne Heights has experienced catastrophic lows and meteoric highs, all while trying to settle into a comfortable zone somewhere within a normal Midwestern existence… Despite the triumphant and tragedy, we’ve always been able to hold each other together, and we’ve realized that these songs are way more than who we are. They are beacons of hope for whoever needs them, because they’ve always been written from a place where sometimes the darkness overtakes light. That feeling is constant, and will continue to be constant until we are all dead and gone, but the songs continue to shine a light and find their way through the darkness. As our fans share this music with their kids, the relationship of uncaged pure emotional hope will simply grow over time, and what a special journey that will be.”

Today, Hawthorne Heights—whose lineup currently consists of Woodruff and Ridenour, plus Mark McMillon (vocals, lead guitar) and Chris Popadak (drums)—continues to maintain an active schedule on the road and in the studio. To-date, the band has released nine studio albums, including the chart-topping If Only You Were Lonely (2006), Fragile Future (2008), and Skeletons (2010). Last year, Hawthorne Heights thrilled fans with a reimagining of If Only You Were Lonely and released their sixth EP, Lost Lights. The four-piece is currently on an extensive North American tour which culminates with a highly anticipated performance of The Silence in Black and White in its entirety at Las Vegas’ When We Were Young Festival. For tickets and more info, visit the band’s official website.

Click here to pre-order The Silence in Black and White 

Tracklist:

 

Side A

  1. Life On Standby
  2. Dissolve And Decay
  3. Niki FM
  4. The Transition
  5. Blue Burns Orange
  6. Silver Bullet

Side B

  1. Screenwriting An Apology
  2. Ohio Is For Lovers
  3. Wake Up Call
  4. Sandpaper And Silk
  5. Speeding Up The Octaves

Side C

  1. Silver Bullet—Demo
  2. Niki FM—Demo
  3. Speeding Up The Octaves—Demo
  4. Ohio Is For Lovers—Live Acoustic On Q101

Side D

  1. The Transition—Live Acoustic On A101
  2. Silver Bullet—Acoustic In The Studio
  3. Apparently Hover Boards Don’t Work on Water (As A day In The Life)

World Premiere Cast Recording of Stephen Sondheim’s Final Musical Here We Are Now Available on Vinyl and Streaming in Dolby Atmos

Eric Alper
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World Premiere Cast Recording of Stephen Sondheim’s Final Musical Here We Are Now Available on Vinyl and Streaming in Dolby Atmos

Today Concord Theatricals Recordings released the original cast recording of Here We Are, David Ives and Stephen Sondheim’s critically acclaimed new musical, on 2-LP, 180g opaque baby blue vinyl.

The album is also now available in Dolby Atmos immersive spatial audio format on streaming services, which can be enjoyed on compatible headphones, home theater, and car systems. The remix allows listeners to experience the show as if they were sitting on stage.

Purchase the vinyl, stream and download the album HERE.

In celebration of the vinyl release, the all-star original cast will sign copies of the album at the Museum of Broadway, just off Times Square (145 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036). The event will take place on Wednesday, October 9 from 5:30–6:30pm. RSVP HERE.

The album features the cast of Joe Mantello’s celebrated world premiere production: Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O’Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce and Jeremy Shamos.

The album was produced by Sean Patrick Flahaven and Bill Rosenfield. Flahaven, who is Chief Theatricals Executive for Concord, is a 3x GRAMMY Award® winner and worked with Sondheim for 25 years in various musical capacities, including on over a dozen albums. Rosenfield is responsible for the original recordings of Sondheim’s Assassins and Putting It Together, as well as over 60 other original cast recordings.

“We’re excited for listeners to be able to experience these fantastic performances in every audio medium, from finely crafted analog vinyl with stunning packaging to the most advanced digital format,” said Flahaven.

Here We Are (Original Cast Recording) has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and music supervision and additional arrangements by Alexander Gemignani, conducting a 14-piece orchestra. The album was recorded and mixed by Ian Kagey and mastered by Oscar Zambrano. The album packaging was designed by Derek Bishop. Complete production credits can be found in the album booklet available for free download HERE.

The album’s Dolby Atmos spatial audio remix was produced by Sean Patrick Flahaven, mixed by Ian Kagey and mastered by Oscar Zambrano. The lacquers for the vinyl masters were cut by Scott Hull at Masterdisk.

Here We Are was produced at The Shed by Tom Kirdahy, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and The Stephen Sondheim Trust, and ran for 129 performances.

Album Track List:

  1. Here We Are (Overture)
  2. The Road 1 (Part 1)
  3. The Road 1 (Part 2)
  4. The Road 1 (Part 3)
  5. Café Everything (Toast 1)
  6. Waiter’s Song
  7. The Road 2
  8. Bistro à la Mode (Toast 2)
  9. It Is What It Is
  10. The Road 3
  11. Osteria Zeno (Toast 3)
  12. The Soldier’s Dream
  13. The Road 4 (Part 1)
  14. The Road 4 (Part 2)
  15. Oh, Look, Here’s The Embassy!
  16. Bishop’s Song
  17. End of Act One
  18. Entr’acte
  19. Digestion
  20. Shine
  21. Hesitation
  22. Double Duet
  23. Interlude 1: Marianne And The Bear
  24. Interlude 2: Wandering
  25. Interlude 3: Snow
  26. Hesitation (Reprise)
  27. Exit Music

Here We Are had its world premiere at The Shed’s Griffin Theatre in New York City, which opened on October 22, 2023 and ended its limited engagement on January 24, 2024 after 105 performances. The production was directed by two-time Tony Award

winner Joe Mantello. The musical features a book by Tony Award nominee David Ives and is inspired by two films, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel, by Luis Buñuel.

Recent albums released by Concord Theatricals Recordings include the GRAMMY Award-winning Into The Woods (2022 Broadway Cast Recording), starring Sara Bareilles, and Some Like It Hot (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and the GRAMMY-nominated Mr. Saturday Night (Original Broadway Cast Recording), starring Billy Crystal, Come From Away (Original Broadway Cast Recording), Amélie (Original London Cast Recording) and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel (2018 Broadway Cast Recording). Other releases include My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert (Live from Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Shaina Taub’s As You Like It (Original Public Works Cast Recording); Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey’s The Visitor, starring David Hyde Pierce; Jason Robert Brown’s The Connector, Antonio Banderas and Teatro del Soho CaixaBank’s Spanish cast albums of Godspell, Company and A Chorus Line; and studio cast recordings of Carmel Dean’s Well-Behaved Women; Zachary & Weiner’s 17 Again, featuring Casey Likes and Eden Espinosa; Douglas J. Cohen’s The Big Time, starring Santino Fontana and Debbie Gravitte, and DRAG: The Musical (The Studio Recording). Theatre artist/songwriter albums include Jaime Lozano & The Familia’s Songs By An Immigrant Vol. 2), Sondheim In The City by Melissa Errico, and Jason Robert Brown’s Coming From Inside The House, featuring Ariana Grande and Shoshana Bean.

Varèse Sarabande Announces the 25th Anniversary Edition Release of The Matrix Score

Eric Alper
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Varèse Sarabande Announces the 25th Anniversary Edition Release of The Matrix Score

Varèse Sarabande and Craft Recordings are thrilled to announce a 25th anniversary edition of Don Davis’ iconic score to The Matrix. Due out November 15th and available for pre-order today on LP, CD, and digital formats, The Matrix (Original Motion Picture Score) features an expanded 18-song tracklist curated by Davis himself from key tracks previously only available on the complete edition of the score, and brand-new artwork by acclaimed illustrator Yuko Shimizu.

In addition to CD and digital, fans can find the album on several exclusive vinyl colorways including “Cyber Swirl Green” on VarèseSarabande.com, while a “Blue Pill” pressing will be available via Barnes & Noble. International Matrix fans will be treated to a “Red Pill” edition. Each version features brand-new anime-inspired illustrations by artist Shimizu, depicting two of the iconic bullet-time moments from the film. All formats and variants are available to order/pre-save here.

The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Joe Pantoliano opened to widespread acclaim from critics, who praised the film’s innovative visual effects, action sequences, cinematography and screenplay. The film was a box office success, grossing over $460 million on a $63 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing Warner Bros. film of 1999 and the fourth highest-grossing film of that year. The film received nominations at the 72nd Academy Awards® for Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Sound and Best Sound Editing, winning all four categories.

As FilmTracks pointed out in their review, “It was a project that Davis referred to as a dream assignment, for it allowed him, as he stated, to rely more heavily on the ‘postmodern works that are being done now on the concert stage.” Davis looked towards the experimental music community making waves in the late 1990s to find inspiration, as opposed to creating something to fit into the traditional film score canon. The end result is a score that remains one of the most unique soundtracks in modern filmmaking.

Davis’ score needed to work on two levels: to help support the film and to highlight the sheer complexity of the images on the screen. It’s the rare musical accompaniment that needs to be affecting at times and purely secondary at others—while still being entertaining as a standalone piece of art. As Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote in his AllMusic review, “There are long quiet stretches that are quite eerie, even without the film to support the music, and he employs dissonance and quick, powerful staccatos quite effectively. And when he turns to grand, sweeping themes, it’s hard not to get caught up in the momentum of the piece.”

In a recently unearthed interview that Davis conducted on the 20th Century Fox Scoring Stage while recording The Matrix for Soundtrack Magazine, Davis spoke about the ideas that would eventually make the film score one of the most celebrated in film history. In the 1999 conversation, he explained: “The biggest challenge was one of approach. When you’re dealing with a film that’s as ground­breaking as this, you can’t accept the tried and true, and taking a post­modern idea and making it into a film score doesn’t mean that you can’t write music that doesn’t function as a film score.” As such, Davis had to balance an avant-garde approach with one that would suit the film, that wouldn’t distract from the mind-boggling images and knotty narrative.

“There are still things that it has to do, it has to play the tension, it has to add energy to the chases and the fights. I had to be pretty judicious about where I was applying a technique,” he added. In The Matrixscore, Don Davis has created a world within one of the most expansive universes to ever grace the cinematic language. Despite the grand nature of the film he was scoring, Davis managed to make a body of work that both accents the movie and stands on its own. Twenty-five years later, that statement is, remarkably, truer than ever before.

Click here to pre-order or stream/download the 25th anniversary edition of The Matrix Score.

Tracklist (Vinyl):

 Side A

  1. Main Title (from The Matrix) / Trinity Infinity
  2. Unable To Speak
  3. Switched For Life*
  4. Switched At Birth*
  5. Switches Brew*
  6. Nascent Nauseous Neo*
  7. A Morpheus Movement*
  8. Domo Showdown*
  9. Bring Me Dinner*
  10. The System

Side B

  1. The Hotel Ambush
  2. Ignorance Is Bliss / Cyber Cyphernetic*
  3. Exit Mr. Hat
  4. The Cure*
  5. The Lobby*
  6. Dodge This*
  7. Ontological Shock
  8. He’s The One Alright*

* Previously only available on The Complete Score

Tracklist (CD):

  1. Main Title (from The Matrix) / Trinity Infinity
  2. Unable To Speak
  3. Switched For Life*
  4. Switched At Birth*
  5. Switches Brew*
  6. Nascent Nauseous Neo*
  7. A Morpheus Movement*
  8. Domo Showdown*
  9. Bring Me Dinner*
  10. The System
  11. The Hotel Ambush
  12. Ignorance Is Bliss / Cyber Cyphernetic*
  13. Exit Mr. Hat
  14. The Cure*
  15. The Lobby*
  16. Dodge This*
  17. Ontological Shock
  18. He’s The One Alright*

* Previously only available on The Complete Score

Concord Records and Fantasy Records Have Merged to Become Concord Records

Eric Alper
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Concord Records and Fantasy Records Have Merged to Become Concord Records

Concord Label Group announced today that Concord Records and Fantasy Records have merged. A new logo has been unveiled for the combined brand which will keep the name of Concord Records. Led by co-presidents Margi Cheske and Mark Williams, the label will continue working with incredible artists, unbound by genre, as well as uphold Concord’s mission of Championing Artists, Elevating Voices, and Impacting Culture. Cheske and Williams, who have known each other since they worked together at Virgin Records, are based in Los Angeles and report to Tom Becci, Chief Executive of Concord Label Group.

This new iteration of Concord Records is continuing the work of its namesake, as well as the legacy of Fantasy Records, as the labels have been lauded for decades for championing a diverse roster of artists. Concord Records furthers this commitment, doubling its efforts of patiently developing a wide array of innovative and talented artists, such as Allison Russell, Daffo, John Vincent III, Matt Berninger, and many more to come. Concord Records has similarly pledged to elevate a unique roster of established artists whose stories are not done being told, including esperanza spalding, Lindsey Stirling, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Taking Back Sunday, Seether, The Offspring, and Thirty Seconds To Mars.

In addition, a new logo has been designed for Concord Records, one that endeavors to establish a fresh path forward for the label as well as to honor the label’s legacy. The new Concord Records logo has its own distinctive mark while still having a thread to the logo for Concord Label Group and Concord.

“In a music landscape where radical change has become the norm, it is vital that labels position themselves to manage complex challenges deftly,” said Tom Becci, Chief Executive of Concord Label Group. Adding, “This merger allows Concord to best utilize our global platform while maintaining the boutique level of service artists have come to expect. I know Mark and Margi share this notion, and their combined resources, alongside their complementary skill sets, will be a real benefit to the artists we serve.”

“Both Concord and Fantasy Records have always pursued artists with a unique vision and story to tell; the combined Concord Records will have an environment where those creative visions will be nurtured and supported,” said Mark Williams.

Margi Cheske added, “This merger will allow us to better maximize our resources in service of those visions. Ultimately, this means a much more global, interconnected approach—allowing us, in concert with our incredible roster of artists, to bring their music to audiences around the world.”

How To Run a Listening Party and 5 Reasons You Should as a Musician

Eric Alper
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How To Run a Listening Party and 5 Reasons You Should as a Musician

There’s no better way to connect with your fans, friends, and even first-time listeners than by hosting a Listening Party! Picture this: your latest single or album is about to drop, and instead of just sending it into the world, you create an experience that’s unforgettable, personal, and downright fun. It’s the kind of thing that can make your music go from being heard to being felt! Listening parties are a great idea for artists who don’t do live shows because they offer a unique way to connect with fans, share the stories behind the music, and create an immersive experience without needing to hit the stage.

Here’s how you can throw an epic Listening Party and why you need to do it, like, yesterday.

5 Reasons Why Musicians Should Host a Listening Party

  1. Direct Fan Connection
    A listening party is your chance to interact with your listeners in real time. Whether you’re streaming live or hosting an intimate in-person event, the vibe is electric when you can talk about your process, the stories behind the songs, and get immediate reactions. It’s that moment where your fans feel like they know you, not just your music.
  2. Build Hype and Anticipation
    Ever heard the saying, “If you build it, they will come”? When you announce a listening party, you’re creating buzz. Fans love to feel like they’re getting exclusive access. It’s like they’re hearing your music before the world does – because they are! It turns the album drop into a must-see event.
  3. Feedback in Real Time
    Imagine getting real-time feedback on your new track! Whether it’s through social media chats, comments, or in-person reactions, you get to see what’s resonating with your fans. This can help shape your future work or even guide your tour setlists. You’re learning, growing, and fine-tuning your art all at once!
  4. Strengthen Your Brand
    A well-executed listening party does more than just launch an album. It strengthens your brand. By curating the event to fit your style – think themed decor, special playlists, or surprise guests – you create an experience that’s uniquely you. And that memory sticks with people long after the last note fades.
  5. Generate Social Media Buzz
    People love to share cool, exclusive events! A listening party is social media gold – your fans will post stories, pics, and comments. You can even livestream it and let your audience tweet, Instagram, or TikTok their reactions. The ripple effect of that buzz keeps growing, and suddenly, your music is everywhere!

How to Throw a Listening Party

Now that you’re convinced (right?!), let’s break down how to actually run a listening party. It’s simpler than you think, but with a few tips, you can make it legendary.

  1. Choose Your Format
    Decide whether it’ll be an in-person event or a virtual one. An in-person party is perfect for local fans or close friends, while a virtual event lets you connect with your global fan base. Virtual platforms like Zoom or Instagram Live are perfect for engaging with fans around the world!
  2. Pick a Venue (if live)
    If you’re going live, find a venue that fits your vibe. It could be a cozy house party, a local club, or even an art gallery. Think about the aesthetic of your music and choose a space that reflects that – something that enhances the atmosphere you want your listeners to feel.
  3. Create a Killer Playlist
    This is your moment, but you don’t want to overwhelm your audience. Choose a few key tracks to showcase, then mix in some of your influences or songs that inspired your work. A curated listening experience adds layers to your story and lets fans feel like they’re walking through your creative mind.
  4. Plan Interactive Moments
    Make it more than just a play-through. Talk to your fans! Introduce each track, share stories, ask questions, and get feedback. You can even invite a Q&A session where fans ask about the songwriting process, production choices, or what’s next for you. Interaction is key to making the event memorable.
  5. Promote It Like Crazy
    A successful listening party starts with great promotion. Use all your social media channels to build excitement, create countdowns, share sneak peeks, and get your fans talking! The more hype, the bigger the turnout. And hey, don’t forget to follow up after with highlights or special behind-the-scenes moments.

A Listening Party is more than just a playback of your music – it’s a celebration of your art, a way to build lasting connections, and a perfect moment to let your fans in on your creative journey. So go ahead, plan that party!

Canada Post to Unveil Stamp Honouring Canadian Singer-Songwriter and Musician Sarah McLachlan

Eric Alper
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Canada Post to Unveil Stamp Honouring Canadian Singer-Songwriter and Musician Sarah McLachlan

Canada Post issued a new stamp today honouring singer-songwriter and musician, Sarah McLachlan. Known for her emotional ballads and hauntingly soulful vocals, the award-winning Canadian artist has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1968, McLachlan was adopted as an infant and received classical training in guitar, piano and voice at an early age. After studying at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design for one year, she moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and released her first studio album, Touch (1988), at age 20.

Her second album, Solace (1991), went gold in Canada and earned McLachlan her first two JUNO nominations and first win for Best Video for the single “Into the Fire.” Fumbling Towards Ecstasy – celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a North American tour – was a hit on its release in Canada and the United States in 1994.

McLachlan has since launched six more studio albums, including the multi-platinum Surfacing (1997), her best-selling album to date. Showcasing her unique fusion of pop and folk with such hits as, “Building a Mystery,” “Sweet Surrender” and “Angel,” the album was a critical and commercial success and won two Grammy Awards and four JUNO Awards.

In 1997, McLachlan founded the exclusively female-fronted Lilith Fair concert tour, which helped bolster careers and raised more than $7 million for local and national charities. She has been a longtime advocate for animal rights and is the founder of the non-profit Sarah McLachlan School of Music, which provides free music education and mentorship to children and youth, among others, facing barriers to access.

McLachlan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (1999), invested into the Order of British Columbia (2001) and received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Popular Music) (2015). A member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (2017), she will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on September 28 of this year.

Designed by Jocelyne Saulnier of Joce Creative, the stamp features a photo of McLachlan with a stylized version of her signature in the foreground. The background includes a detail from her hand silk-screened art print, Blue Sunrays. The cancel site is Vancouver, B.C. – McLachlan’s longtime home.

My Next Read: “Band People: Life and Work in Popular Music” by Franz Nicolay

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “Band People: Life and Work in Popular Music” by Franz Nicolay

Secret (and not-so-secret) weapons, side-of-the-stagers, rhythm and horn sections, backup singers, accompanists—these and other “band people” are the anonymous but irreplaceable character actors of popular music. Through interviews and incisive cultural critique, writer and musician Franz Nicolay provides a portrait of the musical middle class. Artists talk frankly about their careers and attitudes toward their craft, work environment, and group dynamics, and shed light on how support musicians make sense of the weird combination of friend group, gang, small business consortium, long-term creative collaboration, and chosen family that constitutes a band. Is it more important to be a good hang or a virtuoso player? Do bands work best as democracies or autocracies? How do musicians with children balance their personal and professional lives? How much money is too little? And how does it feel to play on hundreds of records, with none released under your name? In exploring these and other questions, Band People gives voice to those who collaborate to create and dissects what it means to be a laborer in the culture industry.

Celebrate the U.S. Beatlemania Explosion: Iconic 1964 Albums Return in 8LP Vinyl Box Set

Eric Alper
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Celebrate the U.S. Beatlemania Explosion: Iconic 1964 Albums Return in 8LP Vinyl Box Set

1964 was the year that the U.S.A. first fell head-over-heels for The Beatles, with an unprecedented run of albums and singles topping the charts and going on to sell millions of copies. But these albums are not simply replicas of the 1963 and 1964 albums released by Parlophone in the UK and rest of world. Seeing a different opportunity, Capitol Records and United Artists compiled these albums for U.S. release between January 1964 and March 1965.

To celebrate the momentous year when Beatlemania exploded across the U.S., seven Beatles albums are collected for a spectacular new 8LP vinyl box set. Meet The Beatles!; The Beatles’ Second Album; A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track); Something New; The Beatles’ Story (2LP); Beatles ’65; and The Early Beatles all feature faithfully replicated artwork and new four-panel inserts with essays written by American Beatles historian and author Bruce Spizer. The albums’ new vinyl lacquers were cut by Kevin Reeves at Nashville’s East Iris Studios with constant reference to the original vinyl first pressings to ensure they are faithful to the original release, while also enabling more musical information to be heard than was possible before. 180 gram audiophile pressing. The Beatles’ Story 2LP is exclusive to the box set.

1964 was the year that the U.S.A. first fell head-over-heels for The Beatles, with an unprecedented run of albums and singles topping the charts and going on to sell millions of copies. But these albums are not simply replicas of the 1963 and 1964 albums released by Parlophone in the UK and rest of world. Seeing a different opportunity, Capitol Records and United Artists compiled these albums for U.S. release between January 1964 and March 1965.

To celebrate the momentous year when Beatlemania exploded across the U.S., seven Beatles albums are collected for a spectacular new 8LP vinyl box set. Meet The Beatles!; The Beatles’ Second Album; A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track); Something New; The Beatles’ Story (2LP); Beatles ’65; and The Early Beatles all feature faithfully replicated artwork and new four-panel inserts with essays written by American Beatles historian and author Bruce Spizer. The albums’ new vinyl lacquers were cut by Kevin Reeves at Nashville’s East Iris Studios with constant reference to the original vinyl first pressings to ensure they are faithful to the original release, while also enabling more musical information to be heard than was possible before. 180 gram audiophile pressing. The Beatles’ Story 2LP is exclusive to the box set.

Tracklist:

Meet The Beatles! [ LP1 ]
SIDE 1
I Want To Hold Your Hand
I Saw Her Standing There
This Boy
It Won’t Be Long
All I’ve Got To Do
All My Loving

SIDE 2
Don’t Bother Me
2.Little Child
Till There Was You
Hold Me Tight
I Wanna Be Your Man
Not A Second Time

The Beatles’ Second Album [ LP2 ]
SIDE 1
Roll Over Beethoven
Thank You Girl
You Really Got A Hold On Me
Devil In Her Heart
Money
You Can’t Do That

SIDE 2
Long Tall Sally
I Call Your Name
Please Mister Postman
I’ll Get You
She Loves You

A Hard Day’s Night [ LP3 ]
SIDE 1
A Hard Day’s Night
Tell Me Why
I’ll Cry Instead
I Should Have Known Better (Instrumental)
I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
And I Love Her (Instrumental)

SIDE 2
I Should Have Known Better
If I Fell
And I Love Her
Ringo’s Theme (This Boy) (Instrumental)
Can’t Buy Me Love
A Hard Day’s Night (Instrumental)

The Beatles Story [ LP4 ]
SIDE 1
On Stage With The Beatles
How Beatlemania Began
Beatlemania In Action
Man Behind The Beatles – Brian Epstein
John Lennon
Who’s A Millionaire?

SIDE 2
Beatles Will Be Beatles
Man Behind The Music – George Martin
George Harrison

The Beatles Story [ LP5 ]
SIDE 3
A Hard Day’s Night – Their First Movie
Paul McCartney
Sneaky Haircuts And More About Paul

SIDE 4
The Beatles Look At Life
Beatle Medley
‘Victims’ Of Beatlemania
Ringo Starr
Liverpool And All The World!

Something New [ LP6 ]
SIDE 1
I’ll Cry Instead
Things We Said Today
Any Time At All
When I Get Home
Slow Down
Matchbox

SIDE 2
Tell Me Why
And I Love Her
I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
If I Fell

Beatles ’65 [ LP7 ]
SIDE 1
No Reply
I’m A Loser
Baby’s In Black
Rock And Roll Music
I’ll Follow The Sun
Mr. Moonlight

SIDE 2
Honey Don’t
I’ll Be Back
She’s A Woman
I Feel Fine
Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby

The Early Beatles [ LP8 ]
SIDE 1
Love Me Do
Twist And Shout
Anna
Chains
Boys
Ask Me Why

SIDE 2
Please Please Me
PS I Love You
Baby It’s You
A Taste of Honey
Do You Want To Know A Secret

The Flaming Lips to Release Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Blu-Ray Edition on November 1, 2024

Eric Alper
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The Flaming Lips to Release Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Blu-Ray Edition on November 1, 2024

Immersing listeners deeper into a living and breathing otherworld, GRAMMY Award-winning alternative luminaries The Flaming Lips will unveil Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (Blu-Ray Edition) on November 1, 2024. The Atmos mixes of Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots as well as 2020’s American Head, are available to stream now on participating digital platforms.

This marks the first release of Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots on Blu-Ray in Dolby ATMOS mixed by Dave Fridmann & Atmos engineering & mastering by Jon Fridmann, DTS-HD 5.1 Mix mixed by Dave Fridmann & Elliot Scheiner, and DTS-HD 2.0 Hi-Res Stereo mixes by Dave Fridmann. The package insert also includes an excerpt from an interview by Wayne Coyne with Jon and Dave Fridmann, discussing the Atmos mixing and listening experience.

The Blu-Ray also notably boasts animated visualizer “Bleep Blops” and four newly remastered music videos—“Fight Test,” “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1,” Are You A Hypnotist??,” and both versions of “Do You Realize??” All music videos will also be upgraded on digital platforms, with “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1” & “Fight Test” available to watch in HD leading up to release.

The Flaming Lips initially unveiled Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots on July 16, 2002. It went on to emerge as their “biggest-selling album so far” and earn a Gold certification from the RIAA. Indicative of the record’s impact, the epic closer “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)” garnered a GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Rock Instrumental Performance.” 22 years later since its arrival, signature classics such as “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” and “Do You Realize??” remain staples in concert and on streaming platforms.

American Head was produced, as always, by longtime collaborator Dave Fridmann and The Lips and is comprised of thirteen cinematic tracks. Among them, “God and the Policeman,” featuring backing vocals from country superstar Kacey Musgraves.

The band is currently on the Voyage to a Blue Planet Tour with Weezer across the US through October 12, 2024. They will then pick back up with continued dates performing Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in its entirety in Australia, the UK, Europe & Asia in 2025.

Formed in Oklahoma City, OK in 1983, The Flaming Lips have since become one of the most iconic, influential, unpredictable, and vital forces in American alternative rock music. The band has garnered three GRAMMY Awards, a Tony nomination, and an RIAA Gold-certified Record for Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Q Magazine named them one of the “50 Bands to See Before You Die.”  The band has made countless late-night television appearances, appeared in a Super Bowl commercial, contributed to many film soundtracks, and collaborated with artists such as Miley Cyrus, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Kacey Musgraves, Yoko Ono, The Chemical Brothers, and many more. Most recently, The LIPS have recorded an album of Nick Cave covers featuring vocalist Nell Smith called “Where The Viaduct Blooms.” They have set countless records, broken attendance records, have a hometown street named in their honor, created spectacular interactive audio/visual events now regarded as legendary.  Frontman Wayne Coyne has been recognized for works of art that graced many LIPS album covers along with his traveling art exhibit (and subsequent album) “The King’s Mouth,” an audiovisual art installation that has been featured in many contemporary art museums around the US.  Their latest LP, American Head, marks a return to a more melodic and song-oriented body of work and has critically been lauded as their best work in years, placing on several “Year End/Best Of lists” around the world. Even after a combination of 23 studio recordings, 16 singles, 11 compilations, 12 EPs and 11 self-released experimental collaborative oddities released in various forms,quantities and unique mediums, The Flaming Lips remain in a creative apex that has no bounds. To that end, they have become an American Treasure and created a genre all to themselves.

TRACKLISTING:

YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS (BLU-RAY)
AUDIO
DOLBY ATMOS, DTS-HD 5.1 SURROUND & DTS-HD 2.0 STEREO MIXES
1. Fight Test
2. One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21
3. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
4. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2
5. In the Morning Of The Magicians
6. Ego Tripping At The Gates of Hell
7. Are You A Hypnotist??
8. It’s Summertime
9. Do You Realize??
10. All We Have Is Now
11. Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon (Utopia Planitia)

MUSIC VIDEOS
1. Fight Test
2. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1
3. Are You A Hypnotist??
4. Do You Realize??
5. Do You Realize?? (Mark Pellington Version)

YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS DIGITAL ALBUM (ATMOS)
1. Fight Test
2. One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21
3. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
4. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2
5. In the Morning Of The Magicians
6. Ego Tripping At The Gates of Hell
7. Are You A Hypnotist??
8. It’s Summertime
9. Do You Realize??
10. All We Have Is Now
11. Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon (Utopia Planitia)

AMERICAN HEAD DIGITAL ALBUM (ATMOS)
1. Will You Return / When You Come Down
2. Watching the Lightbugs Glow
3. Flowers of Neptune 6
4. Dinosaurs on the Mountain
5. At the Movies on Quaaludes
6. Mother I’ve Taken LSD
7. Brother Eye
8. You n Me Sellin’ Weed
9. Mother Please Don’t Be Sad
10. When We Die When We’re High
11. Assassins of Youth
12. God and the Policeman (featuring Kacey Musgraves)
13. My Religion Is You

The Flaming Lips On Tour 2024/2025:
*Indicates date with With Weezer

Sep 17 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena*
Sep 18 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena*
Sep 20 Orlando, FL Kia Center*
Sep 21 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino*
Sep 27 Austin, TX Moody Center*
Sep 28 Houston, TX Toyota Center*
Sep 29 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center*
Oct 01 Loveland, CO Blue Fcu Arena*
Oct 04 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena*
Oct 05 Vancouver, BC, Rogers Arena*
Oct 06 Portland, OR Moda Center*
Oct 08 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center*
Oct 09 San Francisco, CA Chase Center*
Oct 11 Inglewood, CA Intuit Dome*
Oct 12 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena at Greater Palm Springs*
Feb 1 West Melbourne, VIC, Australia at Festival Hall Melbourne
Feb 5 Brisbane, QLD, Australia at The Fortitude Music Hall
April 25 Birmingham, UK at O2 Academy Birmingham
April 26 London, UK at O2 Academy Brixton
April 28 Dublin, Ireland at 3Olympia Theatre
April 29 Dublin, Ireland at 3Olympia Theatre
May 1 Edinburgh, UK at Usher Hall
May 2 Leeds, UK at O2 Academy Leeds
May 4 Manchester, UK at O2 Apollo Manchester
May 5 Bristol, UK at Beacon Hall, Bristol Beacon
May 30 Borgerhout, Belgium at DE ROMA
May 31 Paris, France at Le Trianon
June 2 Utrecht, Netherlands at TivioliVredenburg
June 4 Cologne, German at E-Werk Köln
June 5 Berlin, German at TEMPODROM
June 8 Copenhagen, Denmark at VEGA – Musikkens Hus, Store Vega

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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