Canadian artist (and former frontman of 80s-era rockers ARKITEX) ROGOV describes a cautionary tale of the consequences of love in this re-imagined version of his alt-rock single, “Love Is A Killer” — available now.
Working with long-time friend and Canadian collaborator, Stacy Heydon — former lead guitarist for David Bowie and Gold & Platinum-selling producer (Teenage Head, Long John Baldry, Sheriff) — the two found themselves revisiting an old song off of ROGOV’s demo reels.
“We followed ‘Mistakes are Beautiful’ with ‘Love is a Killer’ because, not only is it a defining song between Stacy and me, but because it is relevant today,” ROGOV shares.
“I wrote ‘Love is a Killer’ back in 1978, and recorded my first album in 1979,” ROGOV continues, recalling when the song was originally written — and how it came to be today. “It was at the end of the Punk movement, ushering in the New Wave.
“Some say I was ahead of my time… I just did and went where my compass directed. I can’t add much to that.”
Heydon then went on to produce ‘Love is a Killer’ with Blues legend, Long John Baldry, in 1980. “After all this time, ‘Love is a Killer’ — and its sentiment — struck us (just) as insightful and urgent,” ROGOV says.
The track harbors a more profound message of wisdom from this newly found free spirit, presenting ROGOV’s take on the concept of love by reflecting aloud “…the subservient quality to love is our willingness to make unquestioning sacrifices for the desired well-being, and eventual transformation into slaves to what we love.”
Being the third release on ROGOV’s unfurling EP, Tourist, the song’s message of caution rings true to this day for many.
When two multi-Platinum and Gold-selling Canadian artists pass time together the best way they know how, the result is certain to turn ears. And such is the case for award-winning musicians Barney Bentall and Geoffrey Kelly and their newly announced album, RanchWriters — available this Fall via True North Records.
Beloved around the world for his JUNO Award-winning band, the Legendary Hearts, Barney Bentall went on to release multiple acclaimed albums as a solo artist; most recently, he’s also a part of bluegrass-folk band, The High Bar Gang. And as one of the primary songwriters in Spirit of the West, Geoffrey Kelly is one of the nation’s most lauded Celtic musicians and folk-rockers who has also performed with the Irish Rovers and as one of the Paperboys.
The prolific pair came together at Bentall’s ranch in the heart of the Cariboo region of British Columbia during 2020’s relative isolation, ultimately bringing their long-fated RanchWriters collaboration to life.
While the act of gathering was not a new experience for the friends of 40+ years, this time was a bit different, they say. “On nice days, we might park ourselves on a couple of old chairs by the creek,” Bentall recalls of the visits over the years. “We tend to lose ourselves, and become comically oblivious to any noise or frivolity going on around.
“There’s no agenda and no pressure to come up with a thoughtful and meaningful lyric. Truth be told, it’s quite liberating.
“This time, being well aware that the times are strange, and words don’t seem to be able to fully capture what the world is going through, we delved deeper and deeper into that instrumental writing process.”
“Making the RanchWriters album with Barney feels like a gift I never saw coming,” Kelly considers. “I’m sure glad we wandered down that path…
“Hypnotic patterns, layering, swirling, dreamy repetition; it all seemed to flow, much like the creek at the ranch in the Cariboo where everything started — with no clock, no deadline, and no agenda.”
Embracing freedom from lyric-based songwriting structures that have spanned their tenured careers, the two tested new techniques — finding unexpected inspiration along the way. “I’d found myself gravitating to instrumental music of late;” Bentall shares. “A chance to be steered only by where the tune takes you…”
“A lot of melodies on the album evolved from using an alternate tuning,” Kelly adds. “I got the tuning from the playing of the great Jackie Leven — who is, sadly, no longer with us.
“Much like Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, Jackie found these open and alternate tunings led him down different paths. In our case, with two guitars and after a bit of experimenting, we found the most pleasing, complementary sound came when Barney played in standard tuning with my open tuning; it seemed to give the chords more extension and counterpoint.
“Not to dwell on technicalities, but I feel this methodology is at the core of the album,” he continues. “The other consistent element is finger picking; there is hardly a strum to be found.”
“That new framework of open tuning seemed to bring forth many wonderful melodies and ideas,” Bentall says. “The combination of the two, with my standard tuning, was enchanting and inspiring to us.”
The result is an entirely instrumental 12-track album dubbed as ‘Cinematic Canadiana’ for its journey across acoustic Americana to traditional folk to New-Grass genres. With all songs written and produced by Kelly and Bentall — plus a co-write from Trixie Berkel on “Marble Canyon Rag” — the two were joined in production by John Raham, who also recorded and mixed the release.
“In Fall of 2020, John called to say he was heading our way with a mobile recording rig, and adding a stop at the ranch seemed like a perfect opportunity to bring the RanchWriters idea to fruition,” Bentall says of the chance to record the release within the same walls they were first created in. “These walls are made of hand-hewn square logs. There are no hard, reflective surfaces; they’re perfect for sound.
“The house was rebuilt out of the old log homestead from the 30s or 40s; children had been born within them; hard cold winters had been endured; Saturday night get-togethers had filled the building with music — a tradition that continues to this day! So we assembled some of our favourite musicians — with others contributing remotely all the way from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island — and hunkered down for three days that October; a beautiful time of year in the Cariboo…
“We are all aware that it is a strange and complex time in the world,” he adds. “Songs with words can be a source of comfort, but sometimes it’s nice to let your mind, heart, and soul float in any direction.
“Hope you enjoy it.”
RanchWriters will be released September 17, 2021 but can be pre-ordered now here.
By sonically documenting his experiences, and taking no aspect of his music for granted, Canadian hip hop artist Toronto Poor Boy has laid it all out on the line with this, his debut studio album, Until the End of Hurting Times — available now.
“Last year was definitely a year for reflection for a lot of people,” the Jamaican-born artist says, “and it gave me the ability to really put my thoughts and feelings into my lyrics.”
Featuring new single “No Stressing,” his recently released 26-song LP, Until the End of Hurting Times, is the culmination of patience, character, and self-determination in putting out the most authentic sound possible. Filled to the brim with a range of hip hop bangers, to motivational and inspirational songs, previously released singles “Big Dreams” and “Low Key” were only a palette cleanser for the breadth of insight found within the melodies and lyrics of this immense musical effort.
To suggest this is just a hip-hop record may disservice the myriad of genre influences that season this record to perfection; piano themes, heavy guitar riffs, dark synths, and trap drums cascade effortlessly across love songs and club anthems just the same. Another indication of TPB’s persistence, apart from this album’s incredibly deep tracklist, is that he has another 24-song record ready to go.
An artist raised on the streets of Toronto, TPB has an origin story like no other… Overcoming adversity and defying the odds has been imprinted into his DNA from the time he immigrated to Canada as a young teen. The obstacles faced during his years in the group and foster care system have informed the profoundly personal perspective embedded within the entirety of his musical catalog.
TPB’s artistic method extends past his general philosophy of self-awareness and personal growth; his recent decision to remove all social media-based services and focus on music platforms, where he continues to find tremendous success, illustrates the old-school approach he takes when representing his art.
We currently live when carbon copies of the most prominent artists are trying to make a quick buck. When the history books recount the many gains and losses throughout society in 2021, Toronto Poor Boy’s music’s inspirational aura and infectious energy will be amongst the most promising artistic contributions from this period.
“No Stressing” and Until the End of Hurting Times are available now.
Malaco Records announces the September 21 publication of The King Of Gospel Music: The Life And Music Of Reverend James Cleveland, a stunning reflection on the unparalleled artistry and towering influence of the Gospel giant. Written by Grammy Award-nominated historian Robert Marovich (The Gospel According To Malaco) with a foreword by Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin, The King Of Gospel Music traces James Cleveland’s evolution as he boldly incorporated the modern musical conventions of soul, pop, and jazz into worship music and became a star and beacon to aspiring Gospel singers everywhere.
Alongside the archival photos and academic insight into Cleveland’s life and art, The King Of Gospel Music is accompanied by a 4 disc set that features over 50 Cleveland recordings, from definitive performances to lesser-known jewels from the catalogue. This is the first time selections from Cleveland’s Apollo, HOB, and Savoy sessions have been combined into a single collection.
Listen to “Oh What a Time,” Rev. Cleveland’s first vocal solo with the Gospelaires featured on The King Of Gospel Music.
And check out a special “Medley” from the collection as well below:
“James Cleveland sings the Horns off the Devil,” wrote David Jackson in The Village Voice, and listening to Cleveland’s recordings today remains a uniquely ecstatic experience. Born on the South Side of Chicago in 1931, Cleveland came from humble beginnings, singing in front of Thomas A. Dorsey at Pilgrim Baptist Church. Unable to afford a piano, as a child he improvised, practicing on his windowsill. In 1950 he formed the Gospelaires, a short-lived group of members of the Roberta Martin Singers, a gospel ensemble for whom he wrote songs.
Cleveland’s early songwriting credits incorporated a bluesy lilt that put him miles ahead of his peers. By the 1960s, he blossomed into a bonafide star, outselling his competitors and becoming an oft-imitated influence on choir directors across the country. His 1963 live album, Peace Be Still, was a resounding success, selling almost a million copies to a predominantly Black audience with scant mainstream promotion. His compositions were adventurous, incorporating the vocabulary of jazz and R&B fluently as his rich voice alternated between raspy narrations, rousing hymnal refrains, and enraptured praise. While he passed away at age 59 in 1991, his music lives on in the generations who devoured his records and attend his annual Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Says Kirk Franklin: “A great architect always builds an edifice that can outlive the builder and be dwelt in for generations to come. That’s exactly what James, the architect, did for me. His melodies, showmanship, and commitment to the message in the music created the foundation for a young homeless kid like me who needed to learn the secrets of building his own. So we remember him, celebrate him, and honor him by continuing to add to his incredibly legacy — the architect of gospel music — James Cleveland.”
On September 17, 2021, Yep Roc Records will release an expanded 20th Anniversary Edition of Nick Lowe’s classic album The Convincer. Remastered from the original tapes, the album will be reissued as a blue vinyl LP, with accompanying blue vinyl 45 featuring three rarities from The Convincer era that have never before been released on vinyl or digital services, including covers of The Shirelles’ “Mama Said” and The Chi-Lites’ “There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table),” plus the Lowe original “A Different Kind of Blue,” which Yep Roc has shared today.
Originally released on September 11, 2001, The Convincer earned immediate praise, with Mojo Magazine stating “Nick Lowe has made the album of his career.” In the intervening two decades, its stature has only grown among fans, critics and other songwriters. In his 2019 biography Cruel To Be Kind: The Life and Music of Nick Lowe, author Will Birch wrote that The Convincer is “the album that many still consider to be his best.” Nick’s labelmate Robyn Hitchcock has said The Convincer is “my favorite Yep Roc record,” adding “I love all his records, but this one stands out.” Johnny Marr, another avowed fan, enthuses “He sounds like Memphis via Chiswick…The Convincer is soul.”
Lowe was well into what The New York Times has called his “remarkable second wind” by 2001, having released two albums in the decade prior – The Impossible Bird (1994) and Dig My Mood (1998) – which were defined by songs set “in a lower yet more sophisticated key…crooned as if they were already standards” (Rolling Stone). But the characters populating The Convincer – the drifting day laborer who returns home in “Indian Queens;” the sad sack bachelor of Lowe’s eternal “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide” – were something altogether different: eccentric, funny, tragic, and so finely detailed as to resemble short stories.
In addition to the The Convincer 20th Anniversary Edition, Yep Roc has also announced new reissues of several other classic Nick Lowe titles, including the aforementioned The Impossible Bird, and Dig My Mood, plus a 10th Anniversary Edition of 2011’s The Old Magic, all of which were remastered from the original tapes. A new pink vinyl version of Lowe’s landmark 1979 album Labour of Lust will also be released.
Nick Lowe will return to the stage this fall, with a three night stand at Nell’s in London on October 3, 4 and 5. Stay tuned for information on 2021 US dates to be announced soon.
Nick Lowe The Convincer 20th Anniversary Edition Tracklist
1. Homewrecker
2. Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart
3. Lately I’ve Let Things Slide
4. She’s Got Soul
5. Cupid Must Be Angry
6. Indian Queens
7. Poor Side of Town
8. I’m a Mess
9. Between Dark and Dawn
10. Bygones (Won’t Go)
11. Has She Got a Friend?
12. Let’s Stay In and Make Love
13. There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table)*
14. Different Kind of Blue*
15. Mama Said*
* = bonus tracks
Jim James and Madison McFerrin join Secretly Canadian’s 25th Anniversary celebration with the release of two commemorative new cover songs: “Seasons” (Steve Miller Band) and “Over The Ocean” (Here We Go Magic). As the 7th and 8th installments of SC25 Singles, a collection of 25 singles, collaborations and philanthropic productions created in honor of the indie record label’s quarter-century milestone, these latest two recordings from James and McFerrin not only widen the time capsule of Secretly Canadian’s indelible music taste, but continue the company’s charitable campaign to aid every homeless family in its hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. Featuring more amazing artists than the Secretly Canadian roster can hold, SC25 Singles has united friends and musical family members like Beach Fossils, Green-House, NNAMDÏ, Porridge Radio, Skullcrusher, Stella Donnelly and now James and McFerrin, with all net proceeds benefiting a mission to raise $250,000 for the Bloomington-based homeless shelter and humanitarian organization, New Hope For Families.
Steve Miller Band’s “Seasons” has been a particularly formative song for Secretly Canadian Co-Founder Chris Swanson, and Jim James says. “Chris Swanson and I started out in the music world around the same time and I have always appreciated his friendship and support. It’s been amazing to watch all of the wonderful music Secretly has helped bring into this world…so when he asked me to cover one of his favorite songs from childhood in honor of Secretly’s big 25th I was excited to do so, and even more excited once I got to know and love the song, which I had never heard before…but is now one of my all time faves too.”
On her astounding, a cappella rendition of “Over The Ocean,” originally written by longtime Secretly Canadian band Here We Go Magic, Madison McFerrin adds, “When covering ‘Over The Ocean,’ I wanted to capture the haunting ease of ocean waves. I’m a water sign and feel very much at ease in the ocean. I hope everyone hears the closeness of that comfort, while simultaneously feeling the expansiveness of the deep blue. I’m incredibly grateful to contribute to such a wonderful cause through this song.”
Also launched today is Secretly Frequencies, a bi-weekly playlist curated by a rotating crew of Secretly employees, artists and collaborators. Listen to this week’s inaugural edition, helmed by Secretly Canadian Co-Founder Ben Swanson: https://ffm.bio/sc25
In tandem with Secretly Frequencies and SC25 Singles, Secretly Canadian recently announced its second set of SC25 Editions, a reissued series of 12 classic albums that have defined and redefined the label’s history, ever since it first launched in a Bloomington basement in 1996. Arriving in groups of four titles throughout 2021, the next batch of SC25 Editions includes ANOHNI’sHOPELESSNESS, Damien Jurado’sWhere Shall You Take Me?, Here We Go Magic’sA Different Ship and Richard Swift’sDressed Up For the Letdown, out September 3rd as limited edition, specially packaged new LPs. Each record is pressed on colored vinyl and accompanied by commemorative essays, art prints and more, with all net proceeds benefiting New Hope For Families.
Read more about New Hope For Families, the only place in Bloomington where families with children can find shelter together, inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities (unlike most shelters in the US): https://www.newhope4families.org
At 95, the legendary Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film, and the stage. Now, for the first time, this EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner shares his story in his own words in “All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business.”
For anyone who loves American comedy, the long wait is over. Here are the never-before-told, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and remembrances from a master storyteller, filmmaker, and creator of all things funny.
All About Me! charts Mel Brooks’s meteoric rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Whether serving in the United States Army in World War II, or during his burgeoning career as a teenage comedian in the Catskills, Mel was always mining his experiences for material, always looking for the perfect joke. His iconic career began with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, where he was part of the greatest writers’ room in history, which included Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. After co-creating both the mega-hit 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and the classic television series Get Smart, Brooks’s stellar film career took off. He would go on to write, direct, and star in The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs, as well as produce groundbreaking and eclectic films, including The Elephant Man, The Fly, and My Favorite Year. Brooks then went on to conquer Broadway with his record-breaking, Tony-winning musical, The Producers.
All About Me! offers fans insight into the inspiration behind the ideas for his outstanding collection of boundary-breaking work, and offers details about the many close friendships and collaborations Brooks had, including those with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Madeleine Kahn, Alfred Hitchcock, and the great love of his life, Anne Bancroft.
Filled with tales of struggle, achievement, and camaraderie (and dozens of photographs), readers will gain a more personal and deeper understanding of the incredible body of work behind one of the most accomplished and beloved entertainers in history.
The official tie-in book for the beloved, nine-time Emmy Award-winning series Schitt’s Creek. This beautifully produced, keepsake coffee-table book is the ultimate celebration of the series, the town, the characters, and the state of mind that is Schitt’s Creek. Capturing the essence and alchemy of all six seasons of what is now considered to be one of the most groundbreaking comedy television series of the last decade, Best Wishes, Warmest Regards is a gift to fans everywhere who have made the show their own.
Included are character profiles from the cast of Johnny, Moira, David, and Alexis, and all of the characters that populate the town, major moments from Moira’s endorsement of Herb Ertlinger Winery, to Patrick and David’s first kiss, to Cabaret and the Rose Family Christmas episode. Also included are special features, such as the complete, illustrated catalogs of David’s knits and Moira’s wigs, Moira’s vocabulary, Alexis’s adventures, and behind-the-scenes moments from Dan and Eugene Levy and the cast of Schitt’s Creek.
Musician, actor, singer, songwriter, producer, humanitarian and global music legend Jimmy Cliff releases “Human Touch,” his first offering of new music in almost 4 years. “Human Touch” was written to promote human interaction just in time for post-Covid realities and exudes his spiritual maturity “Human Touch.”
“As an African descendant, I am blessed and happy to display our unique human story of survival and triumph and to clothe this stage of my musical journey in the great achievements & lessons of Ancient Egyptian enlightenment that has so influenced the recent centuries of human civilization as reflected in obelisks and other Pharaonic monuments in the major cities and culture of the ‘new world’,” adds Jimmy Cliff.
“Human Touch” is out now August 6, Jamaican Independence Day, as a tribute to Cliff’s birthplace the Somerton District of St. James and his musical birthplace of Kingston, Jamaica. As one of the last surviving members of the great generation of Reggae pioneers who have since passed (Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Toots Hibbert), he helped bring the genre to all corners of the globe and helped it gain worldwide popularity. Jimmy Cliff’s impact on music and culture is inescapable. He received Jamaica’s highest honor “The Order of Merit.” He is one of only two Jamaican Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees—Bob Marley being the other. His critically acclaimed album Rebirth was awarded the GRAMMY Award for “Best Reggae Album” and was selected as one of Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Albums of 2012.”
Immortal anthems including “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “The Harder They Come,” and many of his other singles such as “Wild World,” “Hakuna Matata” (with Lebo M.) have had chart success across the globe including Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, U.K. and New Zealand.
Everyone from Annie Lennox to Paul Simon has sought him out for collaborations, while Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Cher, New Order, and Fiona Apple have recorded notable covers. Springsteen’s “Trapped” was included on the We Are The World benefit album. Bob Dylan announced Cliff’s track “Vietnam,” “the greatest protest song ever written.” A distinctive screen presence, he had a starring role in the film and on the soundtrack for the 1972 classic The Harder They Come, which drew an international spotlight on reggae. His career in film includes his wonderful version of “I Can See Clearly Now,” from the ‘Cool Runnings’ soundtrack and his other film appearances include Club Paradise, Muscle Shoals, Marked For Death, and more.
Afrobeats & Reggaeton dominance in streaming popular music pulsates from Jimmy Cliff’s roots influencing global music genres, with his residencies in Latin America and Africa.
2021 promises to be another pivotal year in Cliff’s career as he prepares for the release of his upcoming album and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of Beverly Records and as label, artist and producers, their seminal influences in Island Records 60th. 2022 will mark the 50th anniversary of the acclaimed film and soundtrack, The Harder They Come.
