The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967 perform the classic Hey Joe in 1967 and Jimi surprises the crowd by playing the guitar solo with his teeth.
Olivia Rodrigo Returns With “Vampire” – The First New Single From Her Forthcoming Album Guts
Today, GRAMMY-winning, multi-Platinum-selling, critically lauded singer/songwriter Olivia Rodrigo returns with her new single “vampire.” Released via Geffen Records/Universal Music Canada, the emotionally raw yet extravagantly composed track marks the lead single from the 20-year-old artist’s massively anticipated sophomore album GUTS, due out September 8th. Go HERE to listen to “vampire” and to order the special limited-edition physical versions of the single (including Rodrigo’s first demo of the track, exclusive to the CD and 7” pressing).
The follow-up to Rodrigo’s 4x Platinum, record-breaking 2021 debut album SOUR, GUTS is available for pre-save and for pre-order on CD, cassette, or vinyl HERE. Exclusively available at Rodrigo’s online store, the vinyl version of GUTS will be offered in four colors: red, white, blue, and purple. In addition, an exclusive colored vinyl and CD (both with alternative cover and poster) are now available for pre-order at Target HERE.
Produced by and co-written with Daniel Nigro (also Rodrigo’s main creative partner on SOUR), “vampire” marks a departure from the dreamy minimalism of past hits like her 5x Platinum breakthrough single “drivers license.” To that end, “vampire” begins with a hushed intensity before bursting into a larger-than-life epic built on pulse-pounding drumbeats and magnificently frantic piano work. As the track takes on a wild velocity, Rodrigo reveals her newly heightened sophistication as a vocalist and lyricist, spinning a tale of the kind of toxic romance that drains your very life force.
“I was upset about a certain situation and went to the studio alone and sat down at the grand piano, and the chords and melody and lyrics just poured out of me — almost like an out-of-body experience,” she recalls. “It’s a song about feeling confused and hurt, and at first I thought it was meant to be a piano ballad. But when Dan and I started working on it, we juxtaposed the lyrics with these big drums and crazy tempo changes. So now it’s like a heartbreak song you can dance to.”
Directed by famed artist/director/photographer Petra Collins, the video for “vampire” 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. Collins previously directed the video for Rodrigo’s 2x Platinum “brutal,” and earned a GRAMMY nomination for her work on the video for the 4x Platinum, Billboard Hot 100-topping “good 4 u.”
Earlier tonight, Rodrigo and YouTube hosted an in-person “vampire” premiere event in Los Angeles. There, Rodrigo revealed the #vampireOR2 Shorts challenge and celebrated the release of the official music video alongside her fans and YouTube creators.
Partly written at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City, GUTS mostly came to life in Nigro’s garage studio in Los Angeles. Although each song intensifies the emotional honesty that’s always imbued her storytelling, the album ultimately finds Rodrigo expanding her expressive palette and uncovering entirely new dimensions of her artistry.
“When I was making SOUR I was so new to the process and also so heartbroken; I’d just sit at the piano for hours and feel overcome with things I needed to express,” says Rodrigo. “But this album was much more about focusing on the craft of songwriting, which sometimes meant not taking myself so seriously and getting a little more tongue-in-cheek with my lyrics. We experimented so much with different approaches to writing and ended up with something that’s much more rock-influenced than anything I’ve done before.”
Winner of Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 64th GRAMMY Awards (from which she received seven nominations total), Rodrigo released “drivers license” in January 2021 and instantly saw the track debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, soon becoming the first song in history to hit 80 million streams in seven days on Spotify. That May, SOUR entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, later becoming the longest-running debut album in the chart’s top 10 this century — and the first to spend an entire year in the upper echelon. Also featuring the 3x Platinum “deja vu,” SOUR scored the most U.S. audio streams ever for a female debut album and broke the record for the most-streamed album in a week by a female artist on Spotify. Named the #1 Album of 2021 by Rolling Stone and hailed as one of the Best Albums of 2021 by The New York Times, among others, SOUR has now sold over 17 million albums globally with over 40 billion streams worldwide. The album’s 11 tracks have all been certified Platinum or multi-Platinum by the RIAA — and have landed in the top 30 of Billboard’s Hot 100, making Rodrigo the first female artist to simultaneously chart 11 or more songs in the top 30.
Richard Wright’s Wet Dream Set For July Reissue With Steven Wilson Remix
Richard Wright’s debut solo album, ‘Wet Dream’, is to be reissued on vinyl for the first time since its original release in 1978 this time in deep blue transparent marbled. It will also be available on streaming platforms for the first time ever including a new Dolby Atmos mix, on CD and on blu-ray which includes a 5.1 mix and never before released personal images and videos from around this period of his life.
To be released on 28th July – the actual date of his 80th birthday – it will initially be made available on CD and all streaming platforms with the vinyl and blu-ray editions of the record being released on September 29th.
Remixed by Steven Wilson, this reissue comes with brand new artwork that was commissioned and art-directed by Gala and Jamie Wright, Richard’s children and managers of his estate. As per the original release, the bi-fold sleeve folds out to extend the image and features the same vibrant colour palette. This time, the unidentified person in bright red shorts is swimming within deep blue waters of the sea rather than a pool and the image expands out to reveal a boat slightly out of their reach, referencing the nautical theme of the record. The image was taken by Costas Spathis, a photographer living and working in Greece, which is where the album was written and the graphic design is by Carl Glover. The original artwork was designed by Storm Thorgerson and photographed by Aubrey Powell for Hipgnosis and features in the vinyl booklet.
Upon rediscovering this record, it becomes hugely apparent how much of Richard’s DNA runs through Pink Floyd. His distinct rhythm patterns, song structure and style of play exudes throughout, shining a light on his unique talent and influence on modern music.
When originally released, post Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals’ (1977) and shortly before ‘The Wall’ (1979), ‘Wet Dream’ was largely under-appreciated. Steven Wilson’s mix gives new life to the record demonstrating Wright’s brilliance. He wrote and produced the whole album himself and it was one of only three albums released outside of Pink Floyd- ‘Broken China’, his second solo album from 1996 and ‘Identity’, released in 1983 under the guise of Zee, a duet with Dave Harris from Fashion.
‘Wet Dream’ Track Listing:
1. “Mediterranean C”
2. “Against the Odds”
3. “Cat Cruise”
4. “Summer Elegy”
5. “Waves”
6. “Holiday”
7. “Mad Yannis Dance”
8. “Drop In from the Top”
9. “Pink’s Song”
10. “Funky Deux”
Neil Young To Release Legendary Long Lost 1977 Album Chrome Dreams On August 11
CHROME DREAMS, one of Neil Young’s most individual and powerful albums, was scheduled to be released in 1977, but as is often the case with Young, things change. And then change again. What starts as one thing can often end up as another. For all those who have followed the singer-songwriter’s ever-evolving career, it’s best to let those changes happen.
With CHROME DREAMS, it has been a long time coming to this final version of an album that includes some of rock’s most unforgettable songs. And now it’s being released on August 11 via Reprise Records as Young envisioned it. Now is the time for CHROME DREAMS to find its way into the world, as Neil Young hears and sees it.
The music included on CHROME DREAMS is the debut release of the legendary 1977 “Lost” album of 12 classic Neil Young songs, including four originals. Manufactured as a 3-sided LP with an etching on side 4, CHROME DREAMS is comprised of studio recordings from 1974-1976, including two previously unreleased versions and four tracks never before released on vinyl. Listen here.
The 12 songs on CHROME DREAMS may have existed in other forms at other times, and that is part of the creative process. Many of these are the originals. The summer 2023 release as it is coming to life now is exactly how Young perceived it and has a sense of monumentality about it that conveys a place in history. Songs like “Pocahontas,” “Like a Hurricane,” “Powderfinger,” “Homegrown,” “Stringman,” and “Look Out for My Love” join six other tracks to finally present CHROME DREAMS as a guide into the world of a musician who leads the way into the future, never second-guessing what could have been.
Some of the historical lineage of the songs on CHROME DREAMS today include:
“Powderfinger” is the early/first solo version, the original.
“Pocahontas” is the same version that first appeared on RUST NEVER SLEEPS, but without the overdubs.
“Sedan Delivery” and “Hold Back the Tears” are originals with lyrics that were not included in later released versions. Both are very different versions than previously released.
“Stringman,” is another original performance, included on the ODEON/BUDOKAN disc in ARCHIVES VOL. II; prior to that the song had only appeared on Young’s UNPLUGGED album in a later version, not the original.
CHROME DREAMS will be available on vinyl and CD at the Greedy Hand Store at Neil Young Archives (NYA) and music retailers everywhere. Hi-res digital audio will be available at Neil Young Archives and most DSPs. All Greedy Hand Store purchases come with free hi-res digital audio downloads from the Xstream Store © at NYA.
Track List and Recording Dates:
1. Pocahontas (August 11, 1976)
2. Will to Love (December 3, 1976
3. Star of Bethlehem (December 13, 1974
4. Like a Hurricane (November 29, 1975
5.Too Far Gone (September 5, 1975)
6. Hold Back the tears (February 6, 1977)
7. Homegrown (November 19, 1975)
8. Captain Kennedy (August 11, 1976)
9. Stringman (March 31, 1976)
10. Sedan Delivery (May 22, 1975)
11. Powderfinger (August 11, 1976)
12. Look Out for My Love (January 20, 1976)
ANDY KIM and TOM WILSON Appointed To The Order Of Canada
Today, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, is announcing new appointments to the Order of Canada, including musicians ANDY KIM and TOM WILSON.
Since its creation in 1967, the Order of Canada has honoured Canadians whose service has shaped our society, whose innovations have ignited our imaginations, and whose compassion has united our communities.
Born in Montreal, Andy Kim was inspired by the Beatles, Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Bob Dylan. He found fame in New York City at just 16 years old when he wrote How’d We Ever Get This Way?, the first of nine Billboard Top 40 hits, including #1 songs Rock Me Gently and Sugar, Sugar, one of Billboard’s “Greatest Songs of All Time.” A true Canadian son, Andy has been awarded the country’s top industry honours three times, the JUNO Award for outstanding achievements in the record industry, as well as the Indie Award for Favorite Solo Artist and a star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. Andy is a member of Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into Billboard’s Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Over his epic career, Andy has sold over 30 million records, and The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar” has been streamed over 350 million times on Spotify and YouTube.
For nearly 20 years, The Andy Kim Christmas has been gathering friends and fans together to celebrate the spirit and generosity of the musical community with all proceeds going to charity. The concerts have brought people together from coast to coast on television and in concert, bringing its cumulative money raised to over $2.3 million. The one-of-a-kind charity event has previously included performances by some of the country’s most sought-after singer-songwriters and performers. Past guests include Ron Sexsmith, Kim Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Feist, The Sheepdogs, City and Colour, Nelly Furtado, and more.
“When I got the call, I wondered if this was a trick of some kind. When I realized it was true, I was overwhelmed with tears welling up thinking of my Mom and Dad, both immigrants, from the mountains of Lebanon, who met each other in Montréal, had four boys and loved the country of our birth. We didn’t have much but soon realized we are living in a country that rewarded hard work and dreamers and accepted all races and ethnicity. My parents always reminded us about how great and caring Canada was to them. I am honoured to be part of this beautiful country where people often find the impossible possible.”
Tom Wilson is a Canadian music legend, famed storyteller, and visual artist, is a three-time Juno winning Canadian musician with multiple gold records. He has written for and recorded songs with Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, and The Rankin Family. His band Junkhouse has scored eleven top-ten hits, and his iconic, Americana-fuelled Blackie and the Rodeo Kings have organically evolved into one of the finest roots-oriented bands in music and remains one of Canada’s greatest treasures. Tom’s most recent incarnation, Lee Harvey Osmond, has received extensive praise and airplay throughout North America. His art has shown in galleries in New York City, Vancouver, Toronto and more recently, Ottawa.
But uncovering a web of family secrets set him off on a lifelong journey to reconnect with his identity. With a rare gift for storytelling and an astonishing story to tell, in his critically acclaimed autobiography, Beautiful Scars, Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It’s a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are.
“This is a very emotional and unexpected moment for me. I bring with me Bunny and George Wilson, the two people who gave me a fighting chance, my family and every one of my Mohawk ancestors. I hope this appointment will help to influence the results of my work for Indigenous education and support my positive intentions as I help bring a deeper awareness of the true history of this country and the power and beauty of indigenous people forward through my art, my writing, and my music. The future generations depend on the hard work we do today,” says Wilson.
Toronto Music Historian Bob Wegner Chronicles The Untold Story Of Max Webster in New Book “High Class”
Toronto-based music historian, multi-instrumentalist, and radio host Bob Wegner scoured the archives over countless hours to bring audiences the definitive guide to one of Canada’s most prolific rock bands of all time, Max Webster, with the new book “Max Webster: High Class” — available now here!
Wegner’s latest authorial pursuit sees him wearing many hats as he documents Canadian music history with an unprecedented look at infamous Toronto rockers Max Webster. “In the case of this book, you’re a journalist, fact-checker, designer, audio engineer, and archivist,” says Wegner.
“I relentlessly scoured the world for anything I could find on the subject. Interviewed most of the band members and various other people in the fold and on the periphery,” says Wegner, who would sometimes spend hours researching a single footnote. Wegner also oversaw the digitization of photos, audio, and video, including nearly 400 pages of photos and text.
After nearly a decade in the making, “Max Webster: High Class” came together due to the sheer will of Wegner himself, who oversaw almost every aspect of the project from conception to distribution. From coordinating venues for release events, finding printers for both the books and box sets, a customs broker, and a warehousing/fulfillment company, there was nothing Wegner didn’t touch. “Add project manager to the list of hats you have to wear. There’s a lot of ‘hurry up and wait’ on the business end in between all the joyful moments. But I have zero regrets.”
The indisputable testament to the quality of “Max Webster: High Class” came from Max Webster founder, and Canadian music legend, Kim Mitchell.
“For a guy who claims not to have a great memory, he remembered literally every guitar seen in the photos, where he bought it, for how much, and how much he sold it for,” says Wegner.
“In the 1973 chapter, there’s a photo of a reel-to-reel tape box of their first demo, mostly containing early songs that didn’t even end up on a Max Webster album. Some of these tunes he probably hasn’t even thought of in 50 years, and sitting across the table from me, he sang a couple of them. It was beautiful.”
A limited run of 100 numbered box sets with the book and a few fun trinkets inside are being produced as a special offer. The first ten include a genuine vintage backstage pass obtained from Rob Gunn, Max Webster’s road manager and head of lighting—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the most ardent fans to own a piece of history.
Perhaps the most significant revelation for author Bob Wegner as he worked on the book is that Max Webster fans are massively loyal and dedicated to their music. “I encountered literally hundreds of people without whose generosity this book would have been impossible to complete. Photos, posters, ticket stubs, and high school yearbooks showed up regularly in my inbox and even on my doorstep,” says Wegner.
“I drove all over Ontario to meet many such helpers, plenty of whom are now friends. My biggest takeaway from this entire project is that nobody in this world truly does anything on their own. It takes a village, literally every time.”
The common thread from speaking with fans and people in the business alike is the agreement of how utterly brilliant Max Webster were as composers, musicians, and performers. “I have spoken with people about music for my entire adult life, and I have never come across such a high concentration of people who deeply love and miss a band as much as this one,” says Wegner.”
Wegner has spent fifteen years of experience playing in theatres, on the road, and in the studio, beginning with being selected by Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor to play guitar in the Toronto production of the “We Will Rock You” musical. Wegner’s involvement ultimately led to approximately 1,300 performances of the show worldwide.
Wegner has also played in several tribute bands, including Simply Queen and The Genesis Experience. He has also played hundreds of solo acoustic guitar shows where he often performs complete albums by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Yes. In 2022 he scored an opening slot for Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel).
Not only a brilliant musician, Wegner as an author has also been credited for everything from fact-checker to photo archivist in numerous publications and products, including “Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth: The Official Touring History” (Skip Daly, Eric Hansen, 2019) and Max Webster’s box set “The Party” (ole label group, 2017). The first season of his radio show and podcast “Bollocks with Bob” aired in 2022.
Rusty Creek Puts A Bluesy Spin on Elton John’s Classic With ‘Honky Cat’
Rusty Creek’s new single “Honky Cat” is a cover of the iconic, timeless Elton John classic. The band, whose influences also include an eclectic mix of Bessie Smith, Little Feat, and John Prine, say that they decided to record the single because it’s one of their most-requested live tunes.
Rusty Creek is a collection of lifelong musicians Alex Deeth, Peter Callaway, Lee Stephens, and Leonard Saidman who have all enjoyed a variety of success in the music industry since the 1960s. Their experience makes for a well-polished collection of roots music that you could hear at any pub from coast-to-coast. Their most recent album, The Road of Life is full of songs that range from moods as varied as a stomping party to reflective storytelling. Their previous singles include “Bombs Away,” “White Sails,” “Hello, Old Friend,” and “Kitchen Party.”
Initially, when Alex suggested “Honky Cat,” the band thought, “How could this work? No piano, no horns… what was he thinking?” But as soon as he set up the funky acoustic rhythm guitar, it just came together naturally. Having no piano at the time, it was left to the banjo to fill in some of the signature sounds and the lap steel to give it a little body and take it somewhere else. “Once Lee and Leonard added the bass and drums, we knew we had something a little different and a fun new take in this great old tune,” said the band. “The video is a slide show of some interesting images we found here and there. They may or may not help the narrative but they’re certainly fun to look at while you’re tapping your feet.”
Country Pop Rising Star JACKIE PUTNAM Strikes Emotional Chords with Double A-Side ‘Hurt’ and ‘A Church With No People’
Jackie Putnam, the country-pop sensation from Debert, Nova Scotia, soon launches her highly anticipated debut album, “The Phoenix,” with the double A-side single release of “Hurt” and “A Church With No People.”
The North American Country Music Association International 2023 Award-Winning Entertainer of the Year is set to release both featured tracks on The Phoenix on June 10, 2023. Jackie’s debut album showcases her remarkable songwriting ability while paying homage to her influential country music heroes which include Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Anne Murray, and Shania Twain.
The songs on The Phoenix encompass a variety of genres, including pop, country, gospel, and rock ‘n roll. They were created during a transformative period in Jackie’s life, before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Each track is derived from heartfelt emotions, serving as an outlet for Jackie to heal her mind and soul. “The songs that I wrote on The Phoenix are about experiences that happened in my life and tell you the story about who I am.”
“Hurt is an upbeat song about heartache, collecting your thoughts near the ocean, crashing through the surface and diving in to take the plunge, only to rise up and be able to breathe again,” Jackie explains. “I finished writing this song in 2022 after I returned home from performing at sea on MV Atlantic Vision. There is a line singing about being tossed in the ocean of this deep dark sea, please say a prayer for me.”
A Church With No People was written during the lockdown when there was a restriction on indoor gatherings and services. This emotional song expresses the impact of the mass shooting that occurred in Jackie’s hometown of Colchester County, a municipality of Nova Scotia, where 22 lives were tragically lost.
Jackie describes her emotional struggle when creating this song: “It was difficult for me to drive to work every day past the two murder scenes that happened just down the street from me.” She goes on to say, “The families were not allowed to have a proper funeral because of the lockdown and today, the families are creating a beautiful place called Heart’s Haven Memorial Park in Debert, Nova Scotia.”
When it came to the production of her album, Jackie collaborated with esteemed Canadian musicians, including John Campbelljohn, Bruce Dixon, Kim Dunn, Scott Ferguson, and Ray Legere. These award-winning artists provided their expertise to beautifully complement Jackie’s heartfelt lyrics and melodies.
As a seasoned entertainer, Jackie has captivated audiences with her One Woman Show, which she has taken across Canada and the United States performing original music. She has also entertained worldwide travellers on the Atlantic Ocean aboard Marine Atlantic’s MV Atlantic Vision, where she delivers unforgettable performances. Furthermore, Jackie pays tribute to classic country legends through her One Woman Queens of Country Show and also presents a remarkable Patsy Cline Tribute Show.
oxk5djBx4MLVu1?si=0g4Dl4fPQNelQKDHoy3kkg
My Next Read: “Paused in Cosmic Reflection” By The Chemical Brothers
Paused in Cosmic Reflection is the definitive story of The Chemical Brothers. Told in the voices of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, with contributions from friends and collaborators, it is fully illustrated with 30 years of mind-bending visuals. You can get it here.
Limited Edition of 500:
Individually numbered hardback edition, with alternate cover artwork and ribbon marker.
Housed in a bespoke clamshell box containing:
- Exclusive 7” of previously unreleased track ‘Superflash’
- A Kate Gibb risograph art print and bonus additional print
- Sticker sheet
- Panoramic studio poster
