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The Grateful Dead Tie Record For Most Top 40 Albums on Billboard 200

Eric Alper
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The Grateful Dead Tie Record For Most Top 40 Albums on Billboard 200

The Grateful Dead have tied the record for most Billboard Top 40 albums by any act in history. Having previously broken the record as the group with the most Top 40 albums, the band has just earned their 58th album in the Top 40, with the debut of Dave’s Picks Vol. 48 at #33 on this week’s Billboard 200. The Grateful Dead are now tied with both Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, and are just one release away from breaking the all-time record.

Produced and curated by Grateful Dead Legacy Manager and Audio Archivist, David Lemieux, Dave’s Picks Vol. 48 is the 40th installment in the beloved series to enter the Top 40. Each edition delivers complete, top-grade Grateful Dead shows that sound better than ever, beautifully packaged and released four times a year. Dave’s Picks Vol. 48 is also the Grateful Dead’s 44th Top 40 title released by Rhino Entertainment, and as Lemieux says, “Dave’s Picks is a testament to Rhino never veering off the path of its vision to treat Dead Heads with respect and caring.”

“Working with the Grateful Dead is such a unique experience because they really are one of one,” adds Mark Pinkus, President of Rhino. “With over 2300 amazing shows in their illustrious 30-year career, Rhino has the wonderful responsibility to present those shows to new and old fans alike in a meaningful and magical way. Their continued chart success simply proves what we already know, there are still a lot of Dead Heads in the world and they dig what we do.”

“This is a testament to the enduring connection between the Grateful Dead and their audience – a bond that is as strong today as it ever was and now spans multiple generations with huge numbers of new followers discovering them every day,” said Bernie Cahill, Founding Partner, Activist Artists Management and manager of the Grateful Dead.

This latest achievement caps another milestone year for the Grateful Dead and Dead Heads everywhere. As detailed in last week’s 31st edition of the annual Grateful Dead Almanac, 2023 proved that the band’s ecosystem is as vibrant and voluminous as ever. From the release of the Here Comes Sunshine box set to the 50th Anniversary of Wake Of The Flood, new installments of The Angel’s Share outtakes and Playing In The Band’s interactive mixing board, and so much more, the Dead remains committed to serving their ever-expanding community and time-honored traditions, with a pioneering devotion to complete accessibility.

Rhino and the band continue to open their archives in unprecedented ways, and on today’s episode of the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast, the podcast uncovers an extraordinary lost session by Robert Hunter and the Grateful Dead – the only known time the band’s legendary lyricist led the group in an extended studio session. Captured during the mixing session for the “Eyes of the World” single in November 1973 and channeling the band’s most experimental side, “Prelude” (aka “Tuesday Night Jam”) is a 35-minute studio improvisation by the Dead (minus Jerry Garcia, working with Old & In The Way that night) with Hunter writing lyrics, overdubbing vocals with the group, and mixing the tape down over the course of a single evening, Tuesday, November 6th, 1973. According to musician Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, the intent was to play the tape over the PA before Grateful Dead concerts, which they did several days later at Winterland in San Francisco. Along with a handful of never-heard Hunter/Dead originals and improvisation on instruments not usually heard in the Dead’s music, “Prelude” contains a rare duet of Keith and Donna Godchaux singing “Sweet Inspiration,” the 1968 hit the couple sang together before joining the Dead.

Announced last week, Dave’s Picks Vol. 49 is due out in the first quarter of 2024 via Rhino, and will feature a 4-CD mega set of two complete Grateful Dead shows at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheater on April 27 and 28, 1985. Before then, Rhino will also begin to reissue all eight albums from the Grateful Dead’s Arista years, 1977-1990. Dropping in pairs between now and July 2024, the series begins this Friday, November 10th, with the band’s final studio album, Built To Last, and the 3-LP collection of historic live performances from the late-Brent Mydland era, Without a Net. Available to worldwide retail on limited edition black vinyl and Barnes & Noble exclusive red vinyl, each title has been newly remastered by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer David Glasser, and produced for release by David Lemieux.

Chris Stein of Blondie To Publish His Memoir ‘Under A Rock’

Eric Alper
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Chris Stein of Blondie To Publish His Memoir ‘Under A Rock’

Debbie Harry defined iconic band Blondie’s look. Chris Stein—her performing partner, lover, and lifelong friend—was its architect and defined its sound. “Parallel Lines”, their third album, catapulted to #1, sold 20 million copies, and launched singles like “Heart of Glass”, “Rapture,” and “One Way or Another”, providing the beat when Bianca Jagger and Halston danced at Studio 54 and the soundtrack to every 1970’s punk-soundtracked romance.

Chris Stein knows how to tell a story. Under A Rock is his nothing-spared autobiography and gets released on June 11, 2024. It’s about the founding of the band, ascending to the heights of pop success, and the hazards of fortune.

Famous names march through these pages—Warhol, Bowie, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and more–but you can get famous names anywhere. What you can’t get anywhere else is a plunge into the moments that made a giant 1980’s artistic sensation. Stein takes us there in this revelatory, propulsive, distinctive memoir.

Beastie Boys Perform “Ch-Check It Out” From The Subway To The Stage In 2004

Eric Alper
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Beastie Boys Perform “Ch-Check It Out” From The Subway To The Stage In 2004

Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D. make a classic New York entrance to perform their hit from “To The 5 Boroughs on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2004.

Olivia Colman Reads A Hilarious Seventeenth Century Letter From A Wife To Her Husband

Eric Alper
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Olivia Colman Reads A Hilarious Seventeenth Century Letter From A Wife To Her Husband

On March 3rd, 1610, the one time Lord Mayor of London Sir John Spencer died, leaving behind a vast fortune to be inherited not by his daughter, Elizabeth, whom he had often treated terribly, but to her husband, Lord William Compton—an amount so large, in fact, that Compton was said to have “lost his way” for some time. It was in 1618, when Compton’s health was restored, that Elizabeth wrote him the following letter and listed the many ways in which was to spend some of her late father’s money.

Olivia Colman read this letter at Letters Live at the Union Chapel in 2019.

Singer-Songwriter Doug MacNaughton Releases Soaring “I Believe in Love”

Eric Alper
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Singer-Songwriter Doug MacNaughton Releases Soaring “I Believe in Love”

Toronto-based indie singer-songwriter Doug MacNaughton’s newest single “I Believe in Love,” out now. The track serves as the sixth single off his eagerly anticipated debut album Old Enough To Know Better.

Written back in 2018, the new single is a heartfelt testament to how love can get us through anything. As it stands on the album, “I Believe In Love” showcases MacNaughton’s big heart and ability to compose with cinematic flair, featuring an expansive melody and a soaring electric guitar.

“Somehow,” MacNaughton recalls, “It turned into an ‘80s power ballad, and Jessica Stuart contributed a killer solo!”

On “Old Enough To Know Better,” MacNaughton ties together eight tracks with one message– Human connection and the matters of the heart are our best compass to navigate through the hardships of loneliness, loss and a divisive political climate. With “I Believe In Love,” he doubles down on defending the power of love to any naysayers, with lyrics such as:

Love is stronger than distance;
Stronger than time
Not bound by this red tape,
Or these forms we’ve got to sign

Born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba, Doug MacNaughton approaches his debut release as a seasoned musician. His musical journey began in school bands and choirs, but it was the discovery of Mike Oldfield’s groundbreaking 1973 album, Tubular Bells, that ignited his deep interest in music.

“I loved it that the same person played all the instruments!” he remembers. “I still have that same admiration for people like Joni Mitchell, Cassandra Wilson, Garth Hudson, John Paul Jones, and the list could go on.”

Driven by a desire to become a distinguished jazz-rock guitarist in the vein of Frank Zappa, Steve Howe, or Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, MacNaughton embarked on a path to higher education at Brandon University, where he faced a pivotal choice between classical guitar and vocal studies. Ultimately, he chose the latter, but continues to pursue his musical aspirations with an unwavering commitment to artistic versatility.

“Old Enough To Know Better” expertly demonstrates MacNaughton’s evolution as an artist with multi-eclectic influences. MacNaughton’s songwriting is a product of his wide range of professional experiences, including his involvement in a Frank Zappa tribute concert alongside a Montreal-based electronic music ensemble, his time in Les Misérables, and his creative contributions to numerous stage productions.

With Doug MacNaughton’s rich blend of experience, inspiration, and long-cultivated talents, “Old Enough To Know Better” is poised to be a debut release with a lasting impression.

MELODNA Takes a Soulful Journey into Her African Roots with Sophomore EP ‘She’

Eric Alper
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MELODNA Takes a Soulful Journey into Her African Roots with Sophomore EP ‘She’

Saskatchewan-based emerging artist MELODNA (pronounced Mel-oh-dee-na) digs deep on sophomore EP, She, out now. She sees the singer-songwriter tracing the roots of her African heritage into the present-day, as she adeptly blends elements of R&B, Afrofusion, and South African sounds.

That ready embrace of cultural fusion is a driving force behind MELODNA’s artistry. “My name, MELODNA, came from my love of Zambian harmonies,” she explains. “I’m Zambian, South African, and Malawian born in Canada.”

MELODNA recently released energetic Afrobeats-centric single “OMD” in advance of the project, which serves as a follow-up to 2021’s Keepsake. Levitational chord progressions, stunning vocals, and a relentless beat define the song, a victorious track with infectious zeal that sees MELODNA celebrating how far she’s come and embracing the person that she’s grown into along the way.

But that journey to self-love and acceptance hasn’t come without a struggle, a fact that MELODNA readily acknowledges. In fact, a desire to uplift and encourage others who may be facing similar difficulties was one of the artist’s primary motivations behind making She in the first place. Like many people, MELODNA is no stranger to difficulties stemming from battles with mental health. But she also acknowledges the strength that can be found in knowing that you’re not alone. MELODNA’s music is characterized by ever-present grooves, endless good vibes, and a whole lot of energy. They’re songs that make her want to get up and dance, and, she says, she wants others to feel that same mental relief when they press play.

“I wanted people to feel my lyrics, know the meaning, and instead of crying, relate to my darkness,” she says of the project. “I wanted them to dance.”

Listeners will certainly find catharsis in this set of tracks — both for MELODNA’s ready willingness and ability to give voice to struggle, as well as for her determination to place one foot in front of the other and embrace joy despite.

‘WAYTIN’ summarizes this message perfectly. The upbeat track is a perfect blend of MELODNA’s sonic heritage and is accompanied by lyrics that see her being open and vulnerable about her struggles with depression.

Meanwhile, she reunites with Bjaylee (who featured on her 2022 single ‘ROTATION’) for ‘ALT,’ and features a tender, encouraging outro courtesy of MELODNA’s young son, which highlights the track’s message to keep fighting no matter what life throws at you.

MELODNA has a sound that sticks with you, as much for its unique, genre-defying production as for its intimate lyricism that doesn’t shy away from difficult issues. If She is any indication, we’re sure to hear a lot more from this artist soon.

Prepare to Be Enchanted by Liona Boyd’s ‘Once Upon A Time’ Album and Win a Guitar in Her Remarkable Giveaway

Eric Alper
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Prepare to Be Enchanted by Liona Boyd’s ‘Once Upon A Time’ Album and Win a Guitar in Her Remarkable Giveaway

Liona Boyd, affectionately known as “The First Lady of the Guitar,” is set to captivate music lovers worldwide with her upcoming album, “Once Upon A Time.” This enchanting musical journey results from a five-year creative voyage, offering listeners a realm of nostalgia, beauty, and timeless imagination. What makes this release even more remarkable is the simultaneous launch of a generous guitar giveaway initiative sponsored by Liona Boyd in collaboration with Yamaha and Long & McQuade music stores.

Boyd’s latest album, “Once Upon A Time,” is a captivating fusion of influences and experiences that have shaped her musical world. Inspired by a Schubert nocturne heard in a European château and influenced by the iconic Enya, her compositions are born from contemplative moments during solo walks in Palm Beach, Florida. Notably, the legendary Maestro Vangelis played a pivotal role in inspiring this album, offering praise for Boyd’s melodies and production during a visit to his Paris home in 2019.

The album includes reimagined works from Boyd’s earlier compositions, showcasing her artistic evolution and Peter Bond’s beautiful production. “Once Upon A Time” is Liona Boyd’s first release in Dolby Atmos, providing a unique auditory experience. The Atmos mixes will be available on Apple Music, enhancing the album’s immersive qualities.

To celebrate the album’s release, Liona Boyd is sponsoring a classical guitar giveaway in partnership with Long & McQuade music stores and Yamaha. Thirty high-quality classical guitars, each retailing at $700, will be gifted to aspiring students across Canada from November 6 through December 2023. Boyd’s initiative aims to encourage parents to introduce the gift of music to their children, providing them with a treasured instrument capable of changing lives and offering solace during difficult times.

Liona Boyd shared her motivation behind this initiative: “A classical guitar can be a great friend and provide therapy to alleviate mental stress during challenging times. It is one of the best investments parents can make for their children.”

Five-time Juno Award winner, Liona Boyd has enthralled millions with her romantic and unique brand of classical, folk and world music. She has performed solo and orchestral concerts around the world, had her own television specials, performed for many heads of state, and recorded thirty albums, many of which have gone Gold and Platinum. Liona has been given five Honorary Doctorates, made an Officer of The Order of Canada and awarded The Order of Ontario and Diamond Jubilee Medal. She is a five-time winner of the Guitar Player Magazine poll for best classical guitarist, is a member of the Gallery of Greats, and was recently given a Lifetime Achievement award in the USA by the National Guitar Museum. Liona has composed and arranged hundreds of pieces for the guitar and has written two best-selling autobiographies and a children’s book. Since 2008 Liona has been touring and recording as a singer and songwriter bringing a new dimension to her art and career of over forty-five years.

Despite the challenge of Musician’s Focal Dystonia in 2002, a condition resulting from musical instrument overplaying, Boyd’s unwavering spirit led her to overcome adversity. Her career is a continuous source of inspiration for generations of guitarists, a testament to her determination and passion for music.

Canada’s Musical Treasure and JUNO Award Winning Vocalist Sammy Jackson Releases “Honey”

Eric Alper
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Canada’s Musical Treasure and JUNO Award Winning Vocalist Sammy Jackson Releases “Honey”

Toronto-born and St. Catharines-based Sammy Jackson, the acclaimed singer-songwriter and JUNO-Award winner, is swiftly ascending the ranks as one of Canada’s foremost vocalists. With a voice effortlessly weaving together captivating melodies, the singer’s music offers an auditory experience that feels as comfortable as an old friend’s embrace, leaving listeners with a warm, contented smile that lingers.

Three years after the release of her JUNO Award-winning album, “With You,” supported by the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts and FACTOR, Sammy Jackson introduced the single “Honey.” This cheerful track was co-written with fellow singer-songwriter Jacqueline Teh, marking another chapter in Jackson’s musical evolution. The awarded album features Thomas Fleming on guitar, Chris Pruden on piano/synth, Mark Godfrey on bass, and Ian Wright on drums.

During the quarantine period, Sammy Jackson and Jacqueline Teh joined forces over Zoom to co-write “Honey”. Their creative venture aimed to capture the essence of the “modern woman” – someone driven and career-oriented, juggling a love interest alongside her professional ambitions. Their approach to this song is notably lighter and more playful compared to the personal themes found in Sammy Jackson’s previous album.

Collaboratively brought to life by Bartel and Sammy Jackson, with engineering expertise provided by Jon Bartel and Kevin Fallis, artfully mixed by Jon Bartel, and impeccably mastered by João Carvalho, the release of “Honey” seamlessly marries the realms of visual and auditory artistry, celebrating the diverse roles that women embody.

The visual representation of “Honey” draws inspiration from the captivating aesthetics of 1970s photobooths. The concept unfolds with Sammy Jackson gracefully transitioning across various backgrounds, outfits, and hairstyles. Each frame captures a distinct aesthetic that gracefully traverses the spectrum from fun and lighthearted to deeply serious, embracing emotions from anger to moody introspection. Throughout this artistic journey, Sammy Jackson’s signature soft and jazzy voice wraps listeners in a warm embrace, enhancing the experience.

Jackson’s journey includes remarkable collaborations with esteemed artists, including the likes of Barbra Lica, Rich Brown, Larnell Lewis, and D.D. Jackson. Her performances have graced the stages of Canada’s most revered venues, such as the Glenn Gould Studio, Koerner Hall, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, the Jazz Room, and Westben, cementing her status as a captivating artist celebrated for her vocal prowess, composition mastery, and her unwavering spirit of artistic collaboration.

This marks a new chapter in Sammy Jackson’s musical voyage. Keep that curiosity alive because there’s so much more to come.

Toronto’s Wrené Unleashes Her Dark Wonderland with Electrifying Single ‘Venom’ from Album Metamorphosis

Eric Alper
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Toronto’s Wrené Unleashes Her Dark Wonderland with Electrifying Single ‘Venom’ from Album Metamorphosis

Toronto-based avant-garde pop singer-songwriter and producer Wrené stuns with new dark ambient trap single “Venom.” The hard-hitting track emerges from her atmospheric third album Metamorphosis, which was released in August. “Venom” is an electric trip into the throes of Wrené’s dark wonderland, exploring the relationship between reality’s dull knife and surrealism, the high highs and lower lows of addiction, and the state of the human condition amidst it all.

Born from the bleak hopelessness and isolation that defined the COVID-19 pandemic, Metamorphosis sees Wrené finding refuge in creativity, fantastical escapism, and the exploration of personal identity. She crafted dreamy sonic landscapes that allowed her to explore the unknown through music — even while the world was in lockdown. She reveled in self-transformation and remained mindful of the power of her art to help others in similar situations.

“Venom,” a genre-bending, imaginative journey into Wrené’s mind, is a culmination of those ideas and experiences. With lyrics like “Labyrinths you make me run through, entangled in your web/My body pulsates, whatever rhythm you desire,” the pop crooner details her experience with a toxic relationship and her desire to break free — whatever the cost. This leads her to use drugs to cope with the suffocating trauma of past abuses, as they offer relief (however temporary) from her own bleak reality.

“I’d like to call upon themes of addiction, societal pressures, and highlight how the allure of such self-destructive behaviors are prevalent amongst the youth,” she says of the track. “‘Venom’ could resonate with many young adults who feel trapped, seeking an escape from their current reality out of fear, hopelessness, and a lack of inner guidance and direction. It might speak to those, like myself, who feel unprepared and unequipped to cope in our ever-changing society and who find solace in their own creative world.”

The single is accompanied by the release of a music video that explores many of those same themes. In it, we are introduced to our protagonist: a hero attempting to make their way through a dark, sinister alley. The character does their best to move forward amidst their battle with their inner demons, despite the fact that they are repeatedly being lured into false senses of security, with each unique scene representing a different substance.

“Venom” is a powerful track that speaks to the difficulty of internal struggle and the undeniable courage one exhibits by facing it head on each day. Its intimate lyrics, booming electronic trap production, and accompanying visuals make it an undeniable, addicting listen — and an enduring symbol of Wrené’s ever forward-thinking artistry.

Judas Priest Announces The Invincible Shield Tour

Eric Alper
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Judas Priest Announces The Invincible Shield Tour

Today, heavy metal titans Judas Priest have announced their Invincible Shield Tour with special guest Sabaton. The all-time greats will take over the U.S.A. this spring with 14 shows. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT making stops in Reading, PA; Boston, MA; Rosemont, IL; Washington, DC and more before wrapping up in Syracuse, NY at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview on May 22. Full ticketing and tour dates are available below. Metalheads are in for the show of a lifetime as few rock or metal acts remain as much of a must-see live attraction as Judas Priest!

Judas Priest, a powerhouse in the world of heavy metal has spent over 50 years crafting a legendary career. Emerging from Birmingham in 1969, their impact and influence in the genre remain unparalleled. The band originally solidified their place in music history with iconic albums like ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ and ‘Sin After Sin’ known for metal anthems like ‘Sinner’ and ‘Hell Bent for Leather’ while pioneering the leather-and-studs image now synonymous with the metal culture.

The ’80s marked their pinnacle with classic albums ‘British Steel’, ‘Screaming for Vengeance’, and ‘Defenders of the Faith’, generating timeless hits like ‘Breaking the Law’. Despite lineup changes and various challenges, the band’s resilience remained unwavering. In 2018 Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner, Ian Hill and Scott Travis released ‘Firepower’ which soared as one of their most successful albums, backed by an extensive global tour.

Amid health setbacks and the pandemic, they persevered with a 50th-anniversary tour and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Preparing for the release of their 19th studio album ‘Invincible Shield’ and a headlining performance at the 2023 PowerTrip Music Festival, Judas Priest’s unwavering dedication to spreading their heavy metal legacy continues, promising to rock on into 2024 and beyond.

JUDAS PRIEST: INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR DATES:
Thu Apr 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Fri Apr 19 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Sun Apr 21 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
Wed Apr 24 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
Thu Apr 25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Sat Apr 27 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Center
Sun Apr 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River
Wed May 01 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre
Thu May 02 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Sat May 4 – Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center
Sun May 05 – Maryland Heights, MO – St Louis Music Park
Tue May 07 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Propst Arena
Thu May 09 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville
Sat May 11 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sun May 12 – Mobile, AL – Mobile Civic Center Arena
Tue May 14 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Fri May 17 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center*
Sun May 19 – Washington, DC –The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Tue May 21 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
Wed May 22 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview

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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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