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Elvis Presley’s ‘Aloha From Hawaii’ Gets Expanded Treatment In August For 50th Anniversary

Eric Alper
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Elvis Presley’s ‘Aloha From Hawaii’ Gets Expanded Treatment In August For 50th Anniversary

RCA Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release the definitive 50th anniversary edition of Elvis Presley’s monumental Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite record-setting global concert telecast/double live album on August 11.

The 50th anniversary edition of Elvis Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite — newly remixed and remastered for the occasion — will be available in a 3CD + Blu-ray combined package as well as in 2LP and digital configurations and may be pre-ordered HERE.
For a first taste of the RCA/Legacy 50th anniversary edition of Aloha from Hawaii, check out Elvis’ live interpretation of James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues” on DSPs now.

Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis will present “Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii 50th Anniversary Concert” on August 16, 2023 as part of Elvis Week 2023. In addition, earlier that day, Sony will present a free Aloha from Hawaii Q&A and Listening Event at the Guest House Theater at 1:00 pm. Tickets for the concert and free listening event are available at ElvisWeek.com.
The 50th anniversary edition of Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite is produced by Ernst Jørgensen and newly mixed by Grammy® Award-winning recording engineer Matt-Ross Spang. The set includes the original concert, rehearsal show and after-show recordings and rehearsals including “Blue Hawaii,” “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” “No More” and “Early Morning Rain.” The deluxe set includes a 28-page booklet featuring in-depth liner notes penned by lifelong Elvis fan/respected music critic Randy Lewis, rare photos and memorabilia from the event, and the first-ever visual release of Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite on Blu-ray.
The 50th anniversary edition of Elvis Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite presents, for the first time in one authorized package, the entirety of the original January 14, 1973 performance, the previous night’s dress rehearsal with a live audience (recorded in case of technical mishaps during the satellite transmission), several bonus tracks inserted into the US broadcast of the event and a Blu-ray transfer of the concert film.
Archival producer Ernst Mikael Jørgensen and Memphis-based recording engineer Matt Ross-Spang have fully remixed the album from the original 16-track live recordings—first captured on tape by mobile engineer Wally Heider and newly digitized for this release with audiophile 24-bit, 192 KHz transfers.
The Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite program was produced and directed by television veteran Marty Pasetta, who’d done specials for Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Glen Campbell and had experience in Hawaii with Don Ho. Pasetta employed split screen techniques and quick cuts to mirror the energy Elvis & Co. put out on stage. The telecast also regularly offered extreme close-ups bringing viewers into contact with Elvis with an intimacy that even those in the audience didn’t have.
Elvis Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite – 50th Anniversary Edition (3 discs + Blu-ray)
Disc 1: Recorded live at the Honolulu International Center Arena January 14, 1973, 12:30 AM.
1. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme From 2001: A Space Odyssey)
2. See See Rider
3. Burning Love
4. Something
5. You Gave Me A Mountain
6. Steamroller Blues
7. My Way
8. Love Me
9. Johnny B. Goode
10. It’s Over
11. Blue Suede Shoes
12. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
13. I Can’t Stop Loving You
14. Hound Dog
15. What Now My Love
16. Fever
17. Welcome To My World
18. Suspicious Minds
19. Introductions by Elvis
20. I’ll Remember You
21. Medley: Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
22. An American Trilogy
23. A Big Hunk O’ Love
24. Can’t Help Falling In Love
25. Closing Vamp
Disc 2: Recorded live at the Honolulu International Center Arena, January 12, 1973, 9:00 PM.
1. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme From 2001: A Space Odyssey)
2. See See Rider
3. Burning Love
4. Something
5. You Gave Me A Mountain
6. Steamroller Blues
7. My Way
8. Love Me
9. It’s Over
10. Blue Suede Shoes
11. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
12. Hound Dog
13. What Now My Love
14. Fever
15. Welcome To My World
16. Suspicious Minds
17. Introductions by Elvis
18. I’ll Remember You
19. An American Trilogy
20. A Big Hunk O’ Love
21. Can’t Help Falling In Love
22. Closing Vamp
Disc 3: Recorded without an audience at the Honolulu International Center Arena, January 14, 1973, 3:00 AM, as special bonus songs for the U.S. version of ALOHA FROM HAWAII.
1. Blue Hawaii -rehearsal, takes 1-2
2. Ku-U-I-Po – rehearsal
3. Ku-U-I-Po – take 1
4. Ku-U-I-Po – take 2 (incomplete)
5. Ku-U-I-Po – take 3 (incomplete)
6. Ku-U-I-Po – take 4
7. No More – take 1
8. No More – take 2
9. No More – take 3
10. No More – take 4
11. Hawaiian Wedding Song – take 1
12. Hawaiian Wedding Song – rehearsal
13. Hawaiian Wedding Song – take 2
14. Hawaiian Wedding Song – take 3
15. Early Morning Rain – take 1
16. Early Morning Rain – take 2
MUSICIANS:
Guitar: James Burton
Guitar: John Wilkinson
Guitar & Vocals: Charlie Hodge
Bass: Jerry Scheff
Drums: Ronnie Tutt
Piano: Glen D. Hardin
Vocals: J.D. Sumner & The Stamps
Vocals: The Sweet Inspirations
Vocals: Kathy Westmoreland
The Joe Guercio Orchestra

Steely Dan’s ‘Pretzel Logic’ Returns To Vinyl In July, 2023

Eric Alper
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Steely Dan’s ‘Pretzel Logic’ Returns To Vinyl In July, 2023

Steely Dan’s third album, Pretzel Logic, will return to vinyl for the first time in over 35 years on July 28 via Geffen/UMe.

Originally released in 1974, the best-selling album marked the band’s first to break Billboard’s Top 10, on the strength of their most successful hit, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” plus such favorites as “Any Major Dude Will Tell You,” “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo,” and “Barrytown.”

Pretzel Logic marks the latest release in Geffen/UMe’s extensive reissue program of Steely Dan’s ABC and MCA Records catalog, which returns the band’s first seven records to vinyl – most of which haven’t been available since their original release.

Overseen by founding member Donald Fagen, the series launched in November 2022 with the group’s legendary debut, Can’t Buy A Thrill, followed most recently by 1973’s Countdown To Ecstasy in May 2023.

The album was remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at 33 1/3 RPM. Additionally, Pretzel Logic will be released as a limited edition premium 45 RPM version on Ultra High-Quality Vinyl (UHQR) from Analogue Productions, the audiophile in-house reissue label of Acoustic Sounds. Analogue Productions is also releasing this series of titles on Super Audio CD (SACD).

Additional titles will roll out over the next year, including 1975’s Katy Lied (featuring “Black Friday,” “Bad Sneakers” and “Doctor Wu,” as well as the addition of Michael McDonald on vocals); 1976’s The Royal Scam (“Kid Charlemagne,” “The Fez”); 1977’s platinum-selling Aja (with the hits “Deacon Blues,” Peg” and “Josie”); as well as Steely Dan’s final album for MCA, and last for 20 years, 1980’s Gaucho (featuring “Hey Nineteen” and “Time Out Of Mind,” with Mark Knopfler on guitar).

All albums are being mastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes except for Aja, which will be mastered from an analog, non-EQ’d, tape copy, and Gaucho, which will be sourced from a 1980 analog tape copy originally EQ’d by Bob Ludwig. (There’s no evidence the original tapes containing the flat mixes of Aja and Gaucho were delivered to the record label and it’s presumed the tapes no longer exist.) Lacquers for UMe’s standard 33 1/3 RPM 180-gram version will be cut by Alex Abrash at his renowned AA Mastering studio from high-resolution digital files of Grundman’s new masters and pressed at Precision. They will be housed in reproductions of the original artwork.

The 45 RPM UHQR versions will be pressed at Analogue Productions’ Quality Record Pressings on 200-gram Clarity Vinyl, packaged in a deluxe box, and will include a booklet detailing the entire process of making a UHQR along with a certificate of inspection. Each UHQR is pressed, using hand-selected vinyl, with attention paid to every single detail of every single record. All of the innovations introduced by QRP that have been generating such incredible critical acclaim are applied to each UHQR. The 200-gram records feature the same flat profile that helped to make the original UHQR so desirable.

Commercially, Pretzel Logic marked Steely Dan’s first Top 10 album on the Billboard 200. Single “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” meanwhile, became the biggest hit of their career, landing at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Steely Dan vinyl reissue program follows 2021’s release of Steely Dan’s Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live! and a live version of Donald Fagen’s acclaimed solo album, The Nightfly Live, which were both released via UMe on 180-gram vinyl, CD, and digital.

The first live Steely Dan album in more than 25 years, Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live! was recorded across tour dates at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, The Met Philadelphia, and more, and showcases selections from Steely Dan’s catalog. Fagen’s The Nightfly Live was performed live by The Steely Dan Band.

Pretzel Logic Track List (33 RPM Vinyl)

Side A
1. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
2. Night by Night
3. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
4. Barrytown
5. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo

Side B
1. Parker’s Band
2. Through with Buzz
3. Pretzel Logic
4. With a Gun
5. Charlie Freak
6. Monkey in Your Soul

Photo Gallery: Summer Salt with The Rare Occasions and Addison Grace at Toronto’s Axis Club

Eric Alper
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Photo Gallery: Summer Salt with The Rare Occasions and Addison Grace at Toronto’s Axis Club

All photos by Sophie Bouquillon. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter

Summer Salt
Summer Salt
Summer Salt
Summer Salt
Summer Salt
Summer Salt
Summer Salt
Summer Salt
The Rare Occasions
The Rare Occasions
The Rare Occasions
The Rare Occasions
Addison Grace
Addison Grace
Addison Grace
Summer Salt

Photo Gallery: The Cure with The Twilight Sad at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage

Eric Alper
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Photo Gallery: The Cure with The Twilight Sad at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage

All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter

The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad
The Cure

 

My Bloody Valentine’s Shoegaze Icon Kevin Shields Unleashes Sonic Bliss with New Fender Signature Guitar Pedal

Eric Alper
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My Bloody Valentine’s Shoegaze Icon Kevin Shields Unleashes Sonic Bliss with New Fender Signature Guitar Pedal

This limited-edition pedal marks Fender’s first ever signature fuzz pedal, the Fender® Shields Blender. A truly historic collaboration between Fender and My Bloody Valentine’s front man and effect pedal genius, Kevin Shields, this special edition pedal is final assembled in the USA and comes accompanied with a limited print art box, a limited print hand signed collector’s booklet with an exclusive story and photos, and a plaque bearing Shields’ signature.

An innovator and pivotal influence on effect-laden guitar tones, Kevin Shields awakened iconic sonic walls of fuzz like the world had never heard as he defined the tone of alternative rock in the ‘80s and ‘90s. His tool of choice for fuzz laden chaos: an original Fender Blender effect pedal, prized for its dynamic response and gripping fuzz splatter. Now, through over four years of co-development Fender and Shields have resurrected this mythical 1970’s fuzz and injected a subversive feature set, creating the all-new Fender Shields Blender.

At its core, the Fender Shields Blender echoes the tone of Shields’ own vintage 1970s Fender Blender, thanks to carefully hand tracing the circuit from his personal fuzz box. Built around this vintage circuit are entirely new ways of controlling and blending the original fuzz voice, all crafted with performance in mind utilizing four easy-access footswitches. Two footswitchable channels of fuzz, each with dedicated level controls, offer the ability to blend the fuzz voice with your clean signal or to blend the fuzz voice with a beefy suboctave fuzz, while the sag footswitch introduces sputtering and ducking effects like never before heard, all controlled by the intensity of your playing dynamics.

You can get it here.

Stevie Nicks’ Career-Spanning Studio Albums Available In A New Boxed Set

Eric Alper
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Stevie Nicks’ Career-Spanning Studio Albums Available In A New Boxed Set

Stevie Nicks released her solo debut in 1981, a quadruple-platinum #1 smash that launched her immensely successful solo career. The beloved singer-songwriter has released eight acclaimed solo records, selling nearly 10 million albums in the U.S. and influencing generations worldwide. She’s also the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, first as a member of Fleetwood Mac and then as a solo artist in 2019.

Rhino combines all of Nicks’ solo studio albums in a new, career-spanning boxed set. It comes with eight albums: Bella Donna (1981), The Wild Heart (1983), Rock a Little (1985), The Other Side of the Mirror (1989), Street Angel (1994), Trouble in Shangri-La (2001), In Your Dreams (2011), and 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault (2014). The collection also features Rarities, a new compilation of hard-to-find tracks only available with the set. Several albums were newly remastered from the analog masters for this release, including Rock a Little, The Other Side of the Mirror, Street Angel, and Trouble in Shangri-La.

COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS & RARITIES will be available on July 28 as a 10-CD set and digitally. A newly remastered version of “ONE MORE BIG TIME ROCK AND ROLL STAR” from RARITIES is available today on all digital download and streaming services. Originally released as the B-side to “Talk To Me”, the lead single from Stevie’s 1985 album Rock A Little, “One More Big Time Rock & Roll Star” was also included as a part of The Enchanted Works of Stevie Nicks box set in 1998.

A 16-LP version, limited & numbered to 3,000 units globally, and pressed on crystal-clear vinyl, will be available the same day and you can pre-order here. Several albums in the collection are making their vinyl debut, including Street Angel, Trouble in Shangri-La, and In Your Dreams. All three – plus The Other Side of the Mirror and 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault – will be released as double LPs housed in gatefold sleeves. The new Rarities collection comes as a 3-LP set in a tri-fold sleeve.

COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS & RARITIES follows Nicks’ musical journey across four decades and features her Top 10 hits, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), “Leather And Lace” (with Don Henley), “Stand Back,” and “Talk To Me.” Other essential hits include “Edge Of Seventeen,” “If Anyone Falls,” “I Can’t Wait,” and “Rooms On Fire.”

The boxed set underscores Nicks’ longevity as a solo artist. Six of her eight studio albums were Top 10 hits in the U.S., including her solo debut, Bella Donna, which topped the Billboard 200 in 1981. That album was certified quadruple platinum and remains her best-selling solo effort. Her other albums enjoyed incredible commercial success as well. The Wild Heart is double platinum, Rock a Little and The Other Side of the Mirror are platinum, while Street Angel and Trouble in Shangri-La are certified gold.

Rarities collects 23 of Nicks’ best non-album tracks, including numerous contributions to film and television soundtracks like “Blue Lamp” from Heavy Metal and “Free Fallin’” from Party of Five. Several B-sides are featured in the set, including “One More Big Time Rock And Roll Star,” the flipside to her 1985 hit, “Talk To Me.” A trio of songs originally released on Nicks’ 1991 hits collection Timespace also appear, including “Love’s A Hard Game To Play.” Rarities closes with Nicks’ most recent release, her 2022 cover of Buffalo Springfield’s classic “For What It’s Worth.”

Nicks has concerts scheduled this summer and fall, including several stadium shows co-headlining with Billy Joel. Her next performance will be on June 16 in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. See below for a complete list of upcoming tour dates.

COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS & RARITIES
Bella Donna
The Wild Heart
Rock a Little
The Other Side of the Mirror
Street Angel
Trouble in Shangri-La
In Your Dreams
24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault

RARITIES
3-LP Track Listing

Side One
1. “Blue Lamp”
2. “Sleeping Angel”
3. “Garbo”
4. “Violet And Blue”

Side Two
1. “One More Big Time Rock And Roll Star”
2. “Battle Of The Dragon”
3. “Real Tears”
4. “Sometimes It’s A Bitch”

Side Three
1. “Love’s A Hard Game To Play”
2. “Desert Angel”
3. “Mirror, Mirror”
4. “Inspiration”

Side Four
1. “Thousand Days”
2. “God’s Garden”
3. “Somebody Stand By Me”

Side Five
1. “Free Fallin’”
2. “Reconsider Me”
3. “If You Ever Did Believe”
4. “Crystal”

Side Six
1. “Touched By An Angel”
2. “Not Fade Away”
3. “My Heart”
4. “For What It’s Worth”

Stevie Nicks 2023-24 Tour Dates
June 16 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field *
June 20 Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena
June 23 Chicago, IL United Center
June 27 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
Aug 5 Columbus, OH Ohio Stadium *
Aug 8 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
Aug 12 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Aug 15 Austin, TX Moody Center
Aug 19 Kansas City, MO Arrowhead Stadium *
Sept 23 Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium *
Sept 27 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
Oct 1 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Oct 4 Buffalo, NY Keybank Center
Oct 7 Baltimore, MD M&T Bank Stadium *
Oct 28 Memphis, TN FedEx Forum
Nov 1 Savannah, GA Enmarket Arena
Nov 4 Allentown, PA PPL Center
Nov 7 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
Nov 10 Minneapolis, MN U.S. Bank Stadium *
Nov 29 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena
Dec 2 Inglewood, CA The Kia Forum
Dec 5 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena
Dec 8 Phoenix, AZ Chase Field *
Dec 12 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
Dec 15 San Francisco, CA Chase Center
Mar 9 Arlington, TX AT&T Stadium *
* co-headlining with Billy Joel

Sultans of String and Digging Roots “Take Off The Crown” In New Single

Eric Alper
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Sultans of String and Digging Roots “Take Off The Crown” In New Single

‘Take Off The Crown’ is a collaboration between Raven Kanatakta of 2x JUNO Award winning Digging Roots, and 3x JUNO nominated, 6x CFMA winning Sultans of String, with bed tracks recorded at Jukasa Studios, an Indigenous-owned world-class recording facility on the Six Nations reserve south of Hamilton, Ontario. It is the fourth single off the upcoming Sultans album entitled ‘Walking Through the Fire’ on September 22, 2023, a CD and concert of collaborations with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island.

The lyrics are penned by Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache and Sho-Shona Kish, and the music created with Sultans of String.

Smudge burning in the morning
Makes a healing cloud
News blackout on the lost ones
100,000 souls singing loud

Says Raven: “The song was written primarily for the children that have been found. We have these stories in our communities about all the lost ones, that lost generation, that stolen generation. And for me, when they started finding more of the children, it brought all those stories that I grew up with to life again. I looked at what the source was. The source is colonialism, and colonialism is directly tied to the Crown.”

The country of Canada and the ethics of Canada and the laws of Canada are all intertwined. But the history of this country has been manipulated to create a romantic version of early settlers.

Raven continues: “The Crown is a direct picture of colonialism and genocide in Canada. So many people are suffering from oppression and the effects of oppression that directly comes from the Crown. That directly comes from Canada. That directly comes from the churches who were operating the residential schools. That comes from the RCMP that was created [to push Indigenous people onto reserves]. That comes from all of these systems and this thought-out plan and process to take over a people, to take over a land base.”

A theme that has come up throughout the creation of this project ‘Walking Through the Fire’ is the need for the full truth of Residential Schools and the Indigenous experience to be told, long before Reconciliation can possibly take place.

“People are now telling their stories where they were electrocuted as kids, with electric chairs in the basements of these residential schools or churches… being cattle prodded, being starved and being raped. There’s so much murder to all of this that it’s just unthinkable” says Raven, “And I think this is one of the reasons why we actually need to have a conversation because I, for myself, in the first generation that didn’t have to attend residential schools, nor my wife, Sho-Shona, we raised our own kids exactly how we wanted to. Nobody told us how to do that, and it’s a first, that’s crazy.

Sultans of String violinist Chris McKhool, who was recently awarded the Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award, is working to amplify these truths through these collaborations in the spirit of the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, and Final Report that asks that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people work together as an opportunity to show a path forward. “There is lot of history of our country that has been ignored, distorted, twisted to suit colonialist goals of destroying a people.” says McKhool

How many more little bodies will be found…
Bind hearts and minds, take action now

“I think we’re at a perfect time right now to bring out the truth” Raven continues, “Just by more and more little babies being found it kind of strikes a nerve in people to smarten up and to get to the point of, let’s find the truth here together. We have to move beyond ally-ship, and we have to move into relationships of being co-conspirators, get down into the dirt and start working together and start moving forward. Because if we just talk about surface content, nothing will ever get done. So that’s what ‘Take Off The Crown’ is – that we’re all equals here, and we all need to communicate as equals. the land here has always been our teacher and our guide in that way. And I think that we have to come back to some of those fundamental truths and practices that have been happening here since time immemorial.”

And about what it means to become a co-conspirator: “You have to get dirty in order to create, in order to heal, in order to make magic.” Says Raven, “And I think just as you and I were working on this song in the middle of a pandemic, we traded ideas, musical gifts, knowledge, conversation, and that turned into this song. We need music, we need dance, we need ceremony because it’s a medicine that binds the mind and the heart. We need that not just in Canada or Turtle Island, but all over the world right now.

“We actually need Canadians to step up and take that first move. It’s my job to live my life in the best way that I know how, and when it comes to this song ‘Take Off The Crown’, it was collaborating with you, Chris.”

JUNO Award Winner And Master Songwriter MARC JORDAN Releases New “Rio Grande” Video

Eric Alper
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JUNO Award Winner And Master Songwriter MARC JORDAN Releases New “Rio Grande” Video

The heartfelt emotional centerpiece of Marc Jordan’s new album Waiting for the Sun To Rise is “Rio Grande,” a sweeping anthem which artfully blends sociopolitical commentary about America’s loss of innocence with personal lovelorn yearning. Featuring trumpet great Randy Brecker, and piano by co-produce Lou Pomanti, the song was co-written with Steven MacKinnon from the Art of Time jazz ensemble.

Lyrically the song addresses the view from an experienced age, marvelling at how time passes quickly while many things stay the same: multiple tragedies of modern life with its gun violence, environmental disaster, and a sense of impending doom over the lack of clear solutions. But throughout there’s always hints of optimism and nostalgia to keep us sustained through challenging rainy days with glimpses of brighter daylight ahead. It has been called his Magnum Opus and a triumph of a recording from a world-class artist performing at the peak of his skills.

“Rio Grande” can be found on any streaming service and on the Waiting For The Sun To Rise album. Marc Jordan is a JUNO Award and Genie Award winner, and in 2019 was JUNO-nominated for his last album Both Sides. He is married to singer-songwriter Amy Sky, and in 2022, the duo recorded an JUNO-Award nominated album of duets entitled He Sang She Sang.

Alt-Rockers Oliver Forest Perfect the Art of Slowing Down In Introspective “No Rush”

Eric Alper
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Alt-Rockers Oliver Forest Perfect the Art of Slowing Down In Introspective “No Rush”

Slowing down is an art, and learning to savor the moment and live life on life’s terms is a lesson in maturity. Montreal-based alt-rockers Oliver Forest captures this philosophy in their new single “No Rush” along with its accompanying music video featuring the contemporary dance stylings of Maycie-Ann St-Louis.

An introspective guitar-and-piano relaxed jam with a sunny, soulful, and soaring quality, “No Rush” explores the urge to hurry up and grind whenever we really want something, and how that’s a detriment to true achievement.

When I was a boy, I was excited for the fantasies that came in a toy
Now I’m indicted for the fantasy of wanting much more
And I can’t stop myself from feeling like I’m in over my head

Through the song’s steady progression, we accompany the narrator on their journey, realizing that as long as they know they’re working hard, they shouldn’t be exhausting themselves trying to reach an arbitrary destination. “I’m thinking there’s/ No rush/ I know that I’m working hard so there should be/ No rush.”

The corresponding music video (directed by bassist Rob L’Houmeau) depicts a young woman, dancer Maycie-Ann St-Louis, baking an apple pie in a remote cabin. She watches the pie cook for a while until, frustrated, she goes outside into a vast snow-covered landscape to dance and enjoy just being. At the end of the video, she sits outside next to a roaring fire, finally enjoying her perfectly baked pie. The video is artfully shot and makes use of the gorgeous snow-scape against St-Louis’ all-white wardrobe.

For Oliver Forest, the song is personal. “We often find ourselves in a perpetual state of striving, always pushing to achieve more,” the band said. “But amidst these moments of self-doubt and uncertainty, something special can arise. The realization dawned on us that we were just trying to rush things along rather than let them take their course organically.”

“We hope that our music can serve as a reminder to take life one day at a time and appreciate the beauty in every moment,” they added.

Oliver Forest has taken the Montreal indie music scene by storm with their dynamic fusion of folk, pop, and rock. Their sound is a testament to the band’s artistry and creativity, blending powerful melodies and rich instrumentation into a truly unique listening experience.

As they gear up for an exciting 2023, Oliver Forest has already begun unveiling their latest EP, featuring six new songs that showcase their evolution as artists. The EP’s upcoming single, “No Rush,” is a perfect example of the band’s catchy melodies and refreshing honesty.

Cambridge, ON Folk Artist JAY LINDEN Releases “Ordinary Sunrise” From Upcoming Release

Eric Alper
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Cambridge, ON Folk Artist JAY LINDEN Releases “Ordinary Sunrise” From Upcoming Release

Cambridge, Ontario-based Folk sensation Jay Linden tells a tale about life’s promise and the potential perils lurking in the melancholic title track from his upcoming album, “Ordinary Sunrise.”

Inspired by Folk legends like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, through Bob Dylan and Willie P. Bennett, Jay’s style on “Ordinary Sunrise” is unabashedly acoustic and folk-rooted with lyrics that leave plenty of room for listeners to stamp their own meaning in between the lines – solidifying Jay’s philosophy that a song’s meaning is in the eye of the beholder.

The result is a record brimming with melodic depth, wit, and Linden’s signature warmth. “Ordinary Sunrise” sounds both timeless and timely, a reminder of the folk and roots records of days gone by that, as it unfolds, whether a song is two years old or twenty, is clearly rooted in the present.

It’s a document of Jay Linden’s inner dialogue and perceptions of the world around him. A testament to himself as a musician and songwriter and proof positive that well-considered, thoroughly lived-in songs can sound far fresher and taste sweeter than the flavour of the moment while filling your heart with truth.

“Ordinary Sunrise” reflects a purity of intent that’s thin on the ground these days – a product of Jay’s no-nonsense vocal delivery and masterful playing, the standout contributions of the players assembled on record, and the process itself.

When working on “Ordinary Sunrise,” Linden found inspiration while rummaging through old music. “I found a stack of audio cassettes with pieces of songs that had potential. So, I went through them, catalogued them, and spent a bunch of time padding around the living room (listening) and playing guitar. But I wasn’t thinking, how many songs do I need for an album? I was just making songs,” says Linden.

While the title track is sure to connect with those that appreciate substance in their music, the entirety of the upcoming album, “Ordinary Sunrise,” paints a scene so vividly, you’d swear it’s right in front of you. Songs like ‘Boat On A River’ make it obvious Linden’s not trying to be anything other than honestly and authentically himself. Something abundantly clear on the album opener, ‘10 Dollar Show,’ a sparse earworm that sets the album’s tone and ends up playing in your mind for hours after the first listen.

Plenty of songs on “Ordinary Sunrise” will allow the listener to go deeper should they so choose. From contemplative tracks like ‘Time Higher The Mountain’ to slice-of-life tunes such as ‘Dreamers On A Sailing Ship’ that capture everyday moments in such sharp relief they tend to make the listener see their own surroundings in greater clarity.

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Colin Linden, Jay’s brother, at Pinhead Recorders in Nashville. The process began with Jay recording over Thanksgiving weekend 2021 – the first time the brothers had seen each other in person since the pandemic shut down the US/Canada border. As Colin puts it, sessions played out “like a series of candid photos, not a posed portrait,” Colin explains. “Jay singing and playing guitar, banjo, and harmonica.”

Later, Colin added some bits himself and invited a crack group of Nashville session players to give “Ordinary Sunrise” an extra kick. Featured artists include multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, bassist Johhny Dymond, drummers Gary Craig and Jerry Roe, Janice Powers on B3 and keys, and Fats Kaplin on Violin.

Jay Linden’s last album release, “Under The Radar,” came out in 2009, following his 2006 debut, “Satchel.” This is because Linden doesn’t rush or pressure himself into creating. “I’ve always had periods of time where I was playing a lot, and things were coming out of me. So, if I liked them and thought they were good enough to share, I made a record.”

Linden has worked in the music industry across a variety of other capacities. Some gigs include being a writer for the storied Canadian music trade publication RPM Magazine, a music publicist, and, for many years as an IT Architect. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, he took a lengthy break from songwriting and playing, only picking up the guitar again after quitting smoking, partly because it gave him something to do with his hands in 2001.

When he started playing again, he did so with enthusiasm, collecting and honing his chops on various instruments. From the relatively common (banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, and autoharps) to the more esoteric (the cümbüş, saz, cuatro, tres, bajo sexto, Spanish laúd, and even a tiple). He spent relatively little time playing guitar at that point, he explains but did find time to pick up Harmonica, which figures prominently on “Ordinary Sunrise.”

Jay Linden’s introspective new title track, “Ordinary Sunrise,” is available now.

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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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