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Rising Nunavut-Based Rapper Ehski Releases Debut Album “Final Legacy”

Eric Alper
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1
Rising Nunavut-Based Rapper Ehski Releases Debut Album “Final Legacy”

Nunavut rapper, Ehski, is bursting onto the hip hop scene with his debut album, Final Legacy. The 11-track album was released across streaming platforms on August 25, 2023.

The creation of Final Legacy was inspired during Ehski’s time in the 2021-2022 Ajungi Mentorship Program, created by Iqaluit-based record label, Hitmakerz, and sponsored by FACTOR. Going into the mentorship, Ehski had songs ready to record, but the program gave him the tools to make the album a reality. He received one-on-one mentoring sessions about performance skills, production, music business, entertainment law, and marketing before recording his album in October 2022.

Ehski mixes gritty hip hop beats with honest lyrics about resilience, his community, and his own life story. His lyrics are written in both English and Inuktitut. The album aims to remind people that everyone faces challenges – and everyone can overcome them.

“I want people to know they’re not alone. I am also here fighting against my problems,” said Ehski. “I want them to know that they’re not alone: they can speak with their friends, trusted family, or even a stranger that is willing to listen such as a therapist, counselor, psychologist, or a doctor.”

Final Legacy was produced by Tev Bourque of Tev Sound (Brenda Montana, Birdie Whyte, John Carroll) and was recorded at Bourque’s studio in Ottawa. It includes features from Thor Simonsen and Shauna Seeteenak. The album was released through Hitmakerz and distributed by CD Baby. Financial support was provided by the Government of Nunavut.

While Final Legacy is Ehski’s first album, his original song “Inuurama (I Am a Person)” was previously featured on the 2019 Ajungi compilation album. In 2018, he opened for his late cousin and JUNO-nominated artist, Kelly Fraser, at a performance.

Originally from Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Ehski started making music at 13 years old. He comes from a Christian family, where many of his relatives sing gospel, but he’s the first of his family to rap.  When Ehski was 16 years old, he went to Young Offenders in Iqaluit. There, he began writing poems and lyrics as a way to stay busy and support his emotional wellbeing. It was also through writing lyrics that Ehski improved his English.

“[Music] helps me mentally, spiritually, emotionally, where it can lead me somewhere physically that is destined for me,” said Ehski.

Final Legacy is available to stream now across platforms. To keep up with Ehski, check out his Facebook page or visit his website.

Selena Gomez Returns With A New Pop Anthem “Single Soon”

Eric Alper
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Selena Gomez Returns With A New Pop Anthem “Single Soon”

– Today, GRAMMY®-nominated, multi-Platinum recording artist Selena Gomez released her highly anticipated new song “Single Soon” via Interscope Records/Universal Music Canada. As Gomez continues to work on the follow up to her critically praised album “Rare,” she wanted to give her fans a fun end of the summer song to enjoy as they’ve been patiently waiting for new music from the multi-hyphenate Gomez. Produced by benny blanco and Cashmere Cat, “Single Soon” is available to listen to HERE.

Directed by Philip Andelman, the video for “Single Soon” made its global broadcast premiere on MTV Live, MTVU, and across MTV’s global network of channels, as well as on the Paramount Times Square billboards.

“Single Soon” comes on the heels of Gomez’s No. 1 smash hit “Calm Down” with Rema which reached the No.1 position on Billboard’s Global chart as well as No.1 at Top 40, Rhythm, Urban and Hot AC. “Calm Down” was recently certified triple-platinum by RIAA.

Skylark’s Classic ‘Wildflower’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary; Canadian Music Pioneer BJ COOK Still Rockin At 81

Eric Alper
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Skylark’s Classic ‘Wildflower’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary; Canadian Music Pioneer BJ COOK Still Rockin At 81

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Skylark’s Wildflower, the classic Canadian love ballad that endures genres and generations like sidewalk chamomile with over 100 covers and sample versions to become one of the most beloved and performed songs in the history of Canadian pop music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MJ8flVWL1I

“Let her cry for she’s a lady, let her dream for she’s a child…” This tender refrain is recognized around the world, and though written and most often sung by men, the song owes its enduring success in large part to three women: BJ Cook was the force that envisioned and formed the band Skylark and midwifed its record deal; CKLW Program Director Rosalie Tremblay picked Wildflower as a hit and ensured its release as a single; and music publisher Valley Hennell has protected the copyright for half a century.

BJ Cook and David Foster are two surviving members of the original Skylark band: guitarist/composer Doug Edwards, vocalist Donny Gerrard, bassist Steve Pugsley, drummer Duris Maxwell, B3 player Robbie King, bg vocalist Bobby Taylor and lyricist Dave Richardson have all passed. While Foster went on the worldwide acclaim, it was BJ who assembled the Skylark players and secured the Capitol Records deal that launched both the song and Foster’s career. To this day Foster includes Wildflower in his Hitman concerts and tips his hat to BJ as the root of his success. (Musicians Brian Hilton, Norm McPherson, John Verner and Allan Mix later toured with Skylark during its brief performing sojourn.)

When she met David, BJ Cook was already a pioneer in the nascent BC music scene. In the ‘60s she honed her craft as a showgirl and singer in clubs and bars in Vancouver, opening for stars like Johnny Cash, Della Reese, Marty Robbins and Nancy Wilson, touring with Spanky and Our Gang and The Delights, and fronting her own band Sweet Beaver before joining Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks in Toronto. There she joined forces with a much younger David Foster, and in 1971 when Ronnie fired Foster for “looking like a cadaver on stage”, they moved back to Vancouver and founded Skylark. It was BJ’s connections that led to the recording deal with Capitol Records and a move to LA. When after two albums, the birth of daughter Amy Skylark Foster and a divorce, they went their separate ways, BJ stayed in the biz, working as a PA for Jaye P Morgan and co-writing with Michael McDonald, Brenda Russell, and Bill Champlin. With her longtime collaborator Domenic Troiano she wrote the theme for Night Heat, Air Waves and Hot Shots. At age 81 she is still rockin’ in Victoria, BC.

So how did a poem written by a young policeman (Dave Richardson) for his nurse girlfriend in Victoria Canada, set to music by a musician he had never met (guitarist Doug Edwards) and recorded in a classic first take by an unknown Canadian band (Skylark) launch the career of one of the world’s best-known producers (David Foster) and become beloved around the globe? Wildflower is a one hit wonder whose success is an unlikely tale of luck, pluck, timing and tenacity. The song almost didn’t get written, recorded or released. The title does not appear in the song’s lyric. It defied all odds and broke every rule to become a pop and soul standard.

After the first two singles fizzled, Capitol Records released Wildflower in February 1973 as the third Skylark single at the insistence of hit maker Rosalie Trombley at CKLW Windsor. it went to #1 on the Canadian adult contemporary charts and in May 1973 peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on RPM singles chart.

That same year 1973 saxophonist Hank Crawford (Ray Charles’ musical director) released an instrumental version (on an album entitled Wildflower) which decades later was sampled by 2pac Shakur (Shorty Wanna Be A Thug), Kanye West (Drive Slow), Drake (Miss Me) and recently by young UK rapper Central Cee (Retail Therapy). In 2005 Jamie Foxx sampled the New Birth version in his mega hit Unpredictable.

By the time Skylark released its second album in 1974 (which also included Wildflower) the song had been covered by Johnny Mathis, the New Birth, Jimmy Smith and the O’Jays. It went on to be covered by countless artists including Colour Me Badd, The Neville Brothers, Lisa Fischer, Gary Morris and Blake Sheldon to become one of the most performed songs in Canadian pop music, with over one hundred covers and compilations and dozens of sample versions. It was the only English song on Canto-pop superstar Sandy Lam’s 1991 classic Cantonese album entitled Wildflower.

Wildflower continues to be sung at weddings, graduations and funerals and at the Olympics, and was featured in Gangstresses, a film about prostitution, as the soundtrack for a video counselling US veterans with PTSD; and on New York Undercover (now rebooted) whose writers didn’t know it was written by a cop. Sung in English by Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda, it’s the theme song for a 200 episode Tagalog Filipino revenge drama entitled Wildflower now on Netflix. This year it was sampled by Muslim hip hop artist Siya in her song Together.
Wildflower has been honoured with SOCAN Classic and Crystal Awards and a BMI Millionaire’s Award. In 2011 it was inducted into Canadian Song Writers Hall of Fame.

David Foster in LA and BJ Cook in Victoria are the sole remaining surviving original members of Skylark—Doug Edwards, Steve Pugsley, Duris Maxwell, Robbie King, lyricist Dave Richardson and vocalist Donny Gerrard have all passed on but the music will live on forever.

Unmissable Indie Gem: Vicky von Vicky’s Latest Release ‘Not The Man’ Elevates Toronto’s Music Scene

Eric Alper
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Unmissable Indie Gem: Vicky von Vicky’s Latest Release ‘Not The Man’ Elevates Toronto’s Music Scene

When you need a song you’re not going to skip, and when you’re seeking a band you’re not going to want to simply pass over – then you’re looking for Vicky von Vicky and their latest drop, “Not The Man.”

The Toronto-based four piece, featuring Michael Wynn on guitar and vocals, Paul Pasanen on drums, Rolston Miller on bass, and Tom Nesbitt on guitar, are officially back. And they’re on the indie circuit with new music and a renewed focus on songwriting and collaboration.

Vicky von Vicky formed in the late ’90s featuring former members of Kingston’s Trains of Winter. The group recorded and released two albums – their eponymous debut in 1998, followed by Farmers & Artists in 2001. After a lengthy hiatus, the band decided to reunite in 2019 and are eager to unveil fresh music and forge new connections with people who like listening to something just a little different. And they’re leading that charge with their release “Not The Man”.

“The song itself is about a relationship, which may or may not be one-sided in the narrator’s mind,” explains Wynn, going on to add: “It touches on the roller coaster ride of not knowing how another person feels, etc. especially at the beginning of some sort of connection. And not being able to think about anything else but that person.”

A fan of lyrical quirkiness from that of the Pixies and Velvet Underground, Wynn says he’s “always been attracted to the Springsteen-style of songwriting, where you develop characters and a story, largely fictional, that is drawn from personal experiences. I usually like to put some sort of twist on it, too, like the Pixies would. And for myself, somewhat ironically, when it comes to writing ‘happy-pop’ songs I tend to go the ‘breakup song’ route.”

The result is “Not The Man”, an up-beat, indie rock anthem Wynn had tinkered out by September of 2022. “I knew the chorus would be hard to forget once you had heard it a few times, as I myself was not able to get it out of my head,” Wynn recalls, adding: “I immediately knew this was something I wanted to put out and record.”

Produced by Nixon Boyd of Hollerado, Wynn recorded his newly minted tracks between Boyd’s Orillia-based studio, Simcoe Mechanical, and Banquet Sound in Toronto. After completion earlier this year, Vicky von Vicky collectively decided to release the music as a reunited group.

“Being someone who has played in various bands for the last few decades, I was asking myself, ‘why am I still creating music?’” reflects Wynn. “However, I soon realized it’s something I need to do, it’s in my DNA, the process is just something that is therapeutic and that satisfies my soul and makes me happy.”

And the band is prepared to leave both their legacy fans and new listeners happy. Vicky von Vicky are “Not The Man”, but absolutely the band you’ll fall in love with all over again.

Whitney Lyman’s Latest Single ‘There Is No Rule’ Inspires Unapologetic Pursuit of Happiness

Eric Alper
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Whitney Lyman’s Latest Single ‘There Is No Rule’ Inspires Unapologetic Pursuit of Happiness

Some people say that life is a party and part of the reason for that is a desire to live life to the fullest. In her newest single, “There Is No Rule”, Seattle, WA-born, Los Angeles, CA-based pop singer Whitney Lyman encourages listeners to have fun while doing whatever makes them happy.

“There is No Rule” is the first single off Lyman’s upcoming album Love Spell, slated for an early 2024 release.

Production wise and lyrically, the song has influences that are reminiscent of Pink’s “God Is A DJ”. The song opens with a funky bass groove as Lyman sings and urges the listener to stoke their inner fire and do whatever they want.

By the time the chorus comes in, the bass groove takes on a slight pop-rock vibe that makes the listener want to dance. Lyman’s lyrics do the same as she sings and tells the listener to let loose and enjoy themselves.

“Don’t ever fit inside the lines that somebody drew
There is no single road to find
There is no rule
(There is no rule)
If it makes you feel good
(There is no rule)
Even better than it should
Where the vibes are high as Snoop
Like dinner on the roof”

Lyman states that the song is partly inspired by her own desire to make something more lighthearted after moving to Los Angeles, California just before 2020 and then Palm Springs. “Earlier this year I had a chance to do a songwriting session with Jan Vávra from Czech Republic. He came out to my studio in Palm Springs, after hours of LA traffic. After a dip in the pool and some sparkling Rosé to refresh, together we decided to write a song that captured the vibe.”

Whitney Lyman, a multi-instrumentalist, has performed with standout Emerald City projects Pollens, the Seattle Rock Orchestra and Theoretics, and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a featured vocalist with Grammy-nominated act Odesza. She released her debut solo record, Pleasure/Pain, in May 2018.

Equal parts spiritual and forlorn introspection, the album was recorded at the famed London Bridge Studios and features myriad instrumentalists including the Grammy-winning violinist, Andrew Joslyn. It received acclaim from outlets like King5 News and Artist Home.

Whitney Lyman will be performing as a featured showcase artist at Mastering the Music Business in Bucharest, Romania September 5-7, 2023. MMB, founded in 2016, is the first and biggest international music business conference and showcase festival in Romania. Dedicated to all music enthusiasts, MMB is the place where both independent artists and key music business professionals are offered the opportunity to meet with leading experts in the local and international industry.

Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship Applications Are Now Open

Eric Alper
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Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship Applications Are Now Open

The Bob Dylan Center and Universal Music Publishing Group, the world’s leading music publishing company, have joined forces to launch the Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship. To be awarded to two recipients annually, the Fellowship was created to mentor and develop aspiring songwriters in association with the tremendous educational resources of the Bob Dylan Center.

Each Fellowship encompasses a $40,000 project stipend, public engagement and presentation opportunities, dedicated time in BDC’s Bob Dylan Archive® to study Dylan’s creative process, roundtrip airfare to Tulsa and accommodations in the city, mentorship from UMPG songwriters and executives, and recording time in Tulsa’s historic The Church Studio, the famous studio of Leon Russell.

In addition to being reviewed by BDC and UMPG executives, annual Fellowship recipients will be selected by a global panel of renowned and esteemed artists, including: French singer and songwriter Juliette Armanet; American singer and songwriter Patty Griffin; American singer and songwriter John Mellencamp; Mexican singer and songwriter Carla Morrison; and American rapper and songwriter Nas.

Applications are now open for the 2024 Fellowship and due Oct. 18, 2023. The Fellowship will run from May 2024 through April 2025.

In order to complete the application, click the Apply Now button and create a SlideRoom account.

For more about the Bob Dylan Center, click here. Apply here.

National Music Centre Names Participants of 2023 OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator for Indigenous Artists

Eric Alper
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National Music Centre Names Participants of 2023 OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator for Indigenous Artists

The National Music Centre (NMC) is pleased to announce Dani Lion, Fawn and Dallas, Frannie Klein, J. Otis, and LJ Tyson as the Indigenous musicians selected to participate in the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator program, which will run next month at Studio Bell, and culminate in a live showcase on September 14 at the King Eddy.

Hailing from the Saik’uz First Nation in B.C., Dani Lion (a.k.a. Danielle Mueller) is a Dakelh Dene and Secwepemc performing artist, audio engineer, and music producer based out of Vancouver.

Fawn Wood and Dallas Waskahat who perform together as Fawn and Dallas are a powwow and round dance duo hailing from the Frog Lake First Nation in Treaty 6. Wood’s singing reflects her Cree and Salish tribal lineage, and she has won many accolades for her traditional music including a spot in NMC’s Speak Up! exhibition in 2023. Dallas Waskahat is a singer, drummer and educator who works to empower, strengthen, and maintain Indigenous culture through the power of his voice, music, and leadership.

Anishinaabe prairie singer-songwriter Frannie Klein grew up along the shores of Lake Manitoba. Self-described as “Manitoba’s honky tonk queen,” she has a classic-country sound, and a sassy lyrical dynamic.

Otis is a hip-hop/R&B producer and audio engineer from Fort Albany Cree First Nation in Ontario. He is also the founder of independent label, 67 Records.

A singer-songwriter from Big River First Nation in Saskatchewan, LJ Tyson blends a folk-pop sound with themes that reflect the artist’s two-spirit identity.

“We’re excited to offer these selected artists incredible mentorship and access to world-class facilities at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre,” said David McLeod (member of the Pine Creek First Nation in Treaty 1), NMC Board Member and Chair of NMC’s National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee. “They will certainly flourish and grow from the experience which ultimately strengthens the position of Indigenous voices within the music industry.”

The five selected artists will converge at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), for five days to learn new skills, connect with music industry experts from across the country, and hone their craft and professional chops. Artists for the music incubator were selected by NMC’s National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee, which includes First Nation, Métis and Inuit representation, and acts as a guiding voice for NMC Indigenous programs and content.

Launched in early 2022, OHSOTO’KINO is an Indigenous programming initiative supported by TD that focuses on three elements: creation of new music in NMC’s recording studios, artist development through a music incubator program, and storytelling through NMC exhibitions via the annually updated Speak Up! gallery and through content on NMC’s Amplify platform. OHSOTO’KINO is a Blackfoot phrase, which means ‘to recognize a voice of.’ This title acknowledges both the Blackfoot people and the territory on which National Music Centre resides.

As previously announced in the spring, Inuit-style throat singing duo PIQSIQ, and acclaimed nehiyaw (Plains Cree) powwow and round dance group Blackstone Singers were each awarded an OHSOTO’KINO Recording Bursary to record a commercial album at Studio Bell. The Speak Up! exhibition was also updated in June with a new roster of Indigenous trailblazers, including Tom Jackson, Elisapie, Ferron, Fawn Wood, and Drezus. The current version of the exhibition can be visited until June of 2024.

The OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator Showcase takes place at the King Eddy on September 14 at 7:00 pm and admission will be free to the public. Visit studiobell.ca/whats-on for more information.

The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

 

My Next Read: “In the Groove: The Vinyl Record and Turntable Revolution

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “In the Groove: The Vinyl Record and Turntable Revolution

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first commercial LP with this authoritative, highly illustrated, and multi-faceted look at the history and culture of vinyl record collecting and turntables.

Vinyl records continue to be hot commodities among everyone from obsessive audiophiles to newbie collectors getting their toes wet. In the Groove: The Vinyl Record and Turntable Revolution is the book for both—and everyone in between. Published to mark the 75th year since the introduction of the commercial LP, In the Groove is written by a roster of well-known music journalists, vinyl junkies, and stereophiles teaming up to present a gorgeous tribute to the vinyl LP and the culture it has spawned:

  • Richie Unterberger explores the history of the 33 1/3 LP, including its predecessor, the 78rpm record, the first commercial LPs, the pressing process, stereo vs. mono, and formats like the 7-inch/45rpm record.
  • Gillian Gaar tackles those temples to the turntable: record stores. Inside, she examines the history of LP merchandising everywhere from department stores to headshops, Record Store Day, the artist in-store appearance, and swap meets and record shows.
  • Martin Popoff pens a paean to the physical object itself, discussing the advent of the sleeve, the great LP covers, famous sleeve designers, liner notes and packaging, colored vinyl, and more.
  • Matt Anniss looks at the collecting hobby and topics like obsessive collectors, what makes a great listening space, playing and caring for vinyl, collecting and vinyl in DJ and hip-hop cultures, and the mixtape phenomenon.
  • Ken Micallef, a top hifi journalist, has the gearheads covered with explanations of turntables from portables to audiophile-quality units, the workings and parts of a turntable from motors and tonearms to plinths and cartridges, and the components of a system.

In the Groove is illustrated throughout with images of gear, listening spaces, record stores, sleeve art, and celebrities and musicians enjoying the vinyl hobby through the decades. Brief, entertaining sidebars cover topics like famous labels from Stax to Sub Pop, famous EPs, well-known record stores, milestone LP covers, a beginner’s guide to grading, and formats that have challenged the supremacy of the LP, including 8-track, reel-to-reel, and cassette.

Feel the groove with this effervescent ode to vinyl.

Prince & The New Power Generation’s “Diamonds And Pearls” Gets Expanded Edition With 47 Unreleased Songs

Eric Alper
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Prince & The New Power Generation’s “Diamonds And Pearls” Gets Expanded Edition With 47 Unreleased Songs

 Diamonds And Pearls is the thirteenth studio album by Prince, and was the first with his new backing band, The New Power Generation. Featuring six massive international singles, including the hits “Gett Off”, “Cream”, and the iconic title track, the album was a worldwide smash reaching multi-platinum status in the USA and the UK, where it remains his best-selling album.

This October 27, Paisley Park Enterprises, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Records, will reissue Diamonds And Pearls via all physical, digital, and streaming partners, with the classic album remastered for the very first time, and featuring 47 previously unreleased tracks, as well as a previously unreleased 2+ hours of video concert performances from Prince’s legendary vault. Pre-order HERE

The reissue suite will be comprised of the following formats:

  • Super Deluxe Edition (7CD+Blu-ray / 12LP+Blu-ray / audio-only download and streaming)
  • Deluxe Edition (2CD / 4LP 180g vinyl)
  • Remastered album (1CD / 2LP 180g off-white “Pearl” vinyl (USA only) / 2LP 180g clear “Diamond” vinyl (ex. USA) / download and streaming)

Following the successful release of the 1999 Super Deluxe Edition (2019), and Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition (2020), the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition represents the third deep dive into Prince’s vault. It includes a total of 75 audio tracks across 7x CDs and 12x 180g vinyl records.

The set offers a newly remastered version of the album, plus 15 of the incredible remixes and B-sides from the era, including the never commercially released “Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Min.)” mix. The Super Deluxe Edition also features 33 previously unheard studio gems from Prince’s Illustrious vault, ranging from alternate versions of album tracks, to numbers Prince gave away to other artists, and songs recorded while on the road in 1990.

Prince & The NPG previewed the Diamonds And Pearls Tour at Prince’s Minneapolis club, Glam Slam, on January 11, 1992. The sweaty, sold-out, last-minute show captures the sheer joy and sense of endless possibility that came to define this era. This previously unreleased live concert performance has been mixed from the 24 track master and rounds out the audio content of the 7CD and 12LP sets.

This same previously unreleased concert is also presented in stunning 2K video on the Blu-ray disc that accompanies both Super Deluxe Edition formats, in Stereo, 5.1 Dolby True HD, and Dolby ATMOS audio formats. The Blu-ray also features Prince & The New Power Generation’s performance at The Special Olympics at the Metrodome in Minneapolis in July 1991 (also in Stereo, 5.1, and ATMOS), as well as a previously unseen soundcheck. The Blu-ray is completed by the long out of print Diamonds And Pearls Video Collection, originally released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1992.

The 120-page hardback book which accompanies the SDE set features unseen photos by Randee St. Nicholas, and essays by: author & broadcaster Andrea Swensson; Archivist and Senior Researcher for the Prince Estate Duane Tudahl; British music critic and Prince expert Jason Draper; De Angela L. Duff, an Industry Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn; Social Media Personality KaNisa Williams; and an introduction from Public Enemy founder, Chuck D.

The Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition holds a magnifying glass to the prolific output of this truly unique musician, songwriter, producer, and performer who started the 1990s writing and recording at such a rapid pace that his next album would be practically complete by the time the Diamonds And Pearls Tour debuted in Tokyo that April.

In addition, there will be a brand-new Dolby ATMOS mix of Diamonds And Pearls. This marks the very first time a Prince studio album has been mixed in ATMOS, and it will feature on an audiophile Blu-ray, featuring the album in Dolby ATMOS and HD Stereo (24bit / 44.1kHz) formats.

As a companion collector piece, fans have the opportunity to order a numbered 7” singles boxed set, strictly limited to 1,991 units. Containing remastered audio for six official singles released in 1991 & 1992, the set contains a brand new 7” single comprising two previously unreleased tracks, “Alice Through The Looking Glass” and “Horny Pony (Version 2)”. The set is available to order now, exclusively via the official Prince Store.

“Alice Through The Looking Glass” is now available on all digital download and streaming platforms. Featured on the Super Deluxe set, the track was recorded on May 28, 1991 at Larrabee Sound Studios, Studio A. Listen HERE

Also available now on all digital download and streaming platforms is “Insatiable (Early Mix – Full Version)”, which also appears on the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition. This previously unreleased 8’02” mix features lyrics that were ultimately edited out and reveals how “Insatiable” originally sounded on its initial mix, since it contains a variety of instruments that were eliminated in the final version. Listen HERE

Unlike previous Prince albums, the majority of Diamonds And Pearls was recorded with The New Power Generation, a group he had assembled largely from the Twin Cities area. They shared cultural backgrounds and localised experiences, and helped Prince connect his past influences to the present creating a new uplifting blend of hip-hop, dance, gospel, and pop that would bring him to the top of the charts worldwide.

The New Power Generation was a band that Prince believed in so wholeheartedly that he gave them co-credit on the cover of Diamonds And Pearls, something he’d only done previously with one other band, The Revolution. The group consisted of Sonny Thompson (vocals & bass), Damon Dickson (vocals & percussion), Rosie Gaines (vocals & keyboards), Michael Bland (drums), Kirk Johnson (vocals & percussion), Tony M (vocals), Levi Seacer, Jr. (bass, guitar & vocals), and Tommy Barbarella (keyboards).

Diamonds And Pearls was unveiled to the world on October 1, 1991, and it instantly had a huge commercial and cultural impact, becoming the biggest selling non-soundtrack album of Prince’s career. Over the past three decades, the reasons for its enormous success have been discussed extensively. Not least of these was Prince’s decision to finally engage with major television exposure and an extensive tour of Europe, Japan and his first trip to Australia. The album also offered a diverse collection of sounds that could appeal to a wide variety of listeners. Diamonds And Pearls had something for everyone.

PRINCE & THE NEW POWER GENERATION DIAMONDS AND PEARLS SUPER DELUXE EDITION

(7CD+Blu-ray / 12LP+Blu-ray / Digital *)

CD1 / LP1&2: DIAMONDS AND PEARLS (REMASTERED)

  1. Thunder
  2. Daddy Pop
  3. Diamonds And Pearls
  4. Cream
  5. Strollin’
  6. Willing And Able
  7. Gett Off
  8. Walk Don’t Walk
  9. Jughead
  10. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night
  11. Push
  12. Insatiable
  13. Live 4 Love

CD2 / LP3&4: SINGLE MIXES & EDITS (REMASTERED)

  1. Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Min.)
  2. Gett Off (Houstyle)
  3. Violet The Organ Grinder
  4. Gangster Glam
  5. Horny Pony
  6. Cream (N.P.G. Mix)
  7. Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M Rap)
  8. Do Your Dance (KC’s Remix)
  9. Insatiable (Edit)
  10. Diamonds And Pearls (Edit)
  11. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (Edit)
  12. Call The Law
  13. Willing And Able (Edit)
  14. Willing And Able (Video Version)
  15. Thunder (DJ Fade)

CD3-5 / LP5-9: VAULT I, II, III

VAULT I

  1. Schoolyard
  2. My Tender Heart
  3. Pain
  4. Streetwalker
  5. Lauriann
  6. Darkside
  7. Insatiable (Early Mix – Full Version)
  8. Glam Slam ’91
  9. Live 4 Love (Early Version)
  10. Cream (Take 2)
  11. Skip To My You My Darling
  12. Diamonds And Pearls (Long Version)

All tracks previously unreleased

VAULT II

  1. Daddy Pop (12″ Version)
  2. Martika’s Kitchen
  3. Spirit
  4. Open Book
  5. Work That Fat
  6. Horny Pony (Version 2)
  7. Something Funky (This House Comes) (Band Version)
  8. Hold Me
  9. Blood On The Sheets
  10. The Last Dance (Bang Pow Zoom And The Whole Nine)
  11. Don’t Say U Love Me

All tracks previously unreleased

VAULT III

  1. Get Blue
  2. Tip O’ My Tongue
  3. The Voice
  4. Trouble
  5. Alice Through The Looking Glass
  6. Standing At The Altar
  7. Hey U
  8. Letter 4 Miles
  9. I Pledge Allegiance To Your Love
  10. Thunder Ballet

All tracks previously unreleased

CD6&7 / LP10-12: LIVE AT GLAM SLAM, 1992

  1. Thunder
  2. Daddy Pop
  3. Diamonds And Pearls
  4. Willing And Able
  5. Jughead
  6. The Sacrifice Of Victor
  7. Nothing Compares 2 U
  8. Thieves In The Temple
  9. Sexy M.F.
  10. Insatiable
  11. Cream/Well Done/I Want U/In The Socket (Medley)
  12. 1999/Baby I’m A Star/Push (Medley)
  13. Gett Off
  14. Gett Off (Houstyle)

All tracks previously unreleased

BLU-RAY

LIVE AT GLAM SLAM, 1992

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, JANUARY 11, 1992

  1. Thunder
  2. Daddy Pop
  3. Diamonds And Pearls
  4. Willing And Able
  5. Jughead
  6. The Sacrifice Of Victor
  7. Nothing Compares 2 U
  8. Thieves In The Temple
  9. Sexy M.F.
  10. Insatiable
  11. Cream/Well Done/I Want U/In The Socket (Medley)
  12. 1999/Baby I’m A Star/Push (Medley)
  13. Gett Off
  14. Gett Off (Houstyle)

 

All tracks previously unreleased

SPECIAL OLYMPICS, METRODOME, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, JULY 1991

SOUNDCHECK – JULY 19, 1991:

  1. Let’s Go Crazy/Baby I’m A Star/Push (Medley)

All tracks previously unreleased

SHOW – JULY 20, 1991:

  1. Diamonds And Pearls
  2. Let’s Go Crazy/Baby I’m A Star/Push (Medley)

All tracks previously unreleased

DIAMONDS AND PEARLS VIDEO COLLECTION

  1. Introduction
  2. Thunder (Live)
  3. Gett Off
  4. Cream
  5. Diamonds And Pearls
  6. Dr. Feelgood (Live)
  7. Call The Law
  8. Willing And Able
  9. Jughead (Live)
  10. Insatiable
  11. Strollin’
  12. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night
  13. Live 4 Love (Live)

Blu-ray is presented in: Stereo, 5.1 Dolby True HD (Special Olympics show and Glam Slam only) and Dolby ATMOS (Special Olympics show and Glam Slam only).

* N.B. video content is exclusive to the physical Blu-ray and will not appear on digital download or streaming versions of the Super Deluxe Edition set.

PRINCE & THE NEW POWER GENERATION DIAMONDS AND PEARLS DELUXE EDITION (2CD / 4LP)

CD1 / LP1&2: DIAMONDS AND PEARLS (REMASTERED)

  1. Thunder
  2. Daddy Pop
  3. Diamonds And Pearls
  4. Cream
  5. Strollin’
  6. Willing And Able
  7. Gett Off
  8. Walk Don’t Walk
  9. Jughead
  10. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night
  11. Push
  12. Insatiable
  13. Live 4 Love

CD2 / LP3&4: SINGLE MIXES & EDITS (REMASTERED)

  1. Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Min.)
  2. Gett Off (Houstyle)
  3. Violet The Organ Grinder
  4. Gangster Glam
  5. Horny Pony
  6. Cream (N.P.G. Mix)
  7. Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M Rap)
  8. Do Your Dance (KC’s Remix)
  9. Insatiable (Edit)
  10. Diamonds And Pearls (Edit)
  11. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (Edit)
  12. Call The Law
  13. Willing And Able (Edit)
  14. Willing And Able (Video Version)
  15. Thunder (DJ Fade)

PRINCE & THE NEW POWER GENERATION DIAMONDS AND PEARLS REMASTERED

(1CD / 2LP off-white “Pearl” 180g vinyl (USA only) /

2LP clear “Diamond” 180g vinyl (ex. USA) / Audiophile Blu-ray * / Digital Download / Streaming)

CD1 / LP1&2 / Audiophile Blu-ray *: DIAMONDS AND PEARLS (REMASTERED)

  1. Thunder
  2. Daddy Pop
  3. Diamonds And Pearls
  4. Cream
  5. Strollin’
  6. Willing And Able
  7. Gett Off
  8. Walk Don’t Walk
  9. Jughead
  10. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night
  11. Push
  12. Insatiable
  13. Live 4 Love

* Audiophile Blu-ray presented in Dolby ATMOS and HD Stereo (24bit / 44.1kHz) audio formats

Ed Sheeran To Release His New Album ‘Autumn Variations’ On September 29 And Produced By Aaron Dessner

Eric Alper
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0
Ed Sheeran To Release His New Album ‘Autumn Variations’ On September 29 And Produced By Aaron Dessner

Exciting news for Ed Sheeran and The National fans as Ed unveils his highly anticipated album, ‘Autumn Variations,’ scheduled for release on September 29. Adding to the anticipation is the album’s production, skillfully helmed by Aaron Dessner, of The National. As the release date approaches, this promises to be an album that resonates deeply with the autumn season’s introspective vibes.

“Last autumn, I found that my friends and I were going through so many life changes. After the heat of the summer, everything either calmed, settled, fell apart, came to a head or imploded,” says Ed Sheeran.

“When I went through a difficult time at the start of last year, writing songs helped me understand my feelings and come to terms with what was going on, and when I learned about my friend’s different situations, I wrote songs, some from their perspectives, some from mine, to capture how they and I viewed the world at that time. There were highs of falling in love and new friendships among lows of heartbreak, depression, loneliness and confusion.”

“My dad and brother told me about a composer called Elgar, who composed ‘Enigma Variations’, where each of the 14 compositions were about a different one of his friends. This is what inspired me to make this album. When I recorded Subtract with Aaron Dessner, we clicked immediately. We wrote and recorded non-stop and this album was born out of that partnership. I feel he has captured the feeling of autumn so wonderfully in his sonics and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do.”

Autumn Variations will be released on  September 29,  2023 through Gingerbread Man Records.

 

Autumn Variations tracklisting:

  1. Magical
  2. England
  3. Amazing
  4. Plastic Bag
  5. Blue
  6. American Town
  7. That’s On Me
  8. Page
  9. Midnight
  10. Spring
  11. Punchline
  12. When Will I Be Alright
  13. The Day I Was Born
  14. Head > Heels

 

 

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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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