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Rainbow Celebrated With ‘The Temple Of The King: 1975 – 1976’ 9CD Box Set

Eric Alper
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Rainbow Celebrated With ‘The Temple Of The King: 1975 – 1976’ 9CD Box Set

Rainbow are being honored with an expansive new 9CD box set, The Temple Of The King: 1975 – 1976, arriving March 27, 2026 via Edsel Records. The newly mastered collection, overseen by engineers Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham, is the first in a planned anthology series spotlighting the career of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Spanning the band’s formative first two years, the set includes the debut Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, the breakthrough Rising, and the German concerts that informed the live album On Stage, alongside a full disc of rarities. Housed in deluxe 7-inch packaging with a 24-page booklet featuring memorabilia and liner notes by Rich Davenport, the box captures the era when Blackmore and vocalist Ronnie James Dio forged a mystical hard rock template that would influence generations. The collection also marks the first time the 1976 Cologne, Düsseldorf and Nürnberg concerts are widely available together outside Japan.

RAINBOW – THE TEMPLE OF THE KING 1975 – 1976

Track Listing

CD ONE: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
Man On The Silver Mountain
Self Portrait
Black Sheep Of The Family
Catch The Rainbow
Snake Charmer
The Temple Of The King
If You Don’t Like Rock ‘n’ Roll
Sixteenth Century Greensleeves
Still I’m Sad

CD TWO: Rising
Tarot Woman
Run With The Wolf
Starstruck
Do You Close Your Eyes
Stargazer
A Light In The Black

CD THREE: Live In Köln 1976 – Kölner Sport Halle 25.9.1976 – Part 1
Kill The King
Mistreated
Sixteenth Century Greensleeves
Catch The Rainbow
Man On The Silver Mountain

CD FOUR: Live In Köln 1976 – Kölner Sport Halle 25.9.1976 – Part 2
Stargazer
Still I’m Sad
Do You Close Your Eyes

CD FIVE: Live In Düsseldorf 1976 – Düsseldorf Philips Halle 27.9.1976 – Part 1
Kill The King
Mistreated
Sixteenth Century Greensleeves
Catch The Rainbow

CD SIX: Live In Düsseldorf 1976 – Düsseldorf Philips Halle 27.9.1976 – Part 2
Man On The Silver Mountain
Stargazer
Still I’m Sad

CD SEVEN: Live In Nürnberg 1976 – Nürnberg Messezentrum Halle 28.9.1976 – Part 1
Kill The King
Mistreated
Sixteenth Century Greensleeves
Catch The Rainbow
Man On The Silver Mountain

CD EIGHT: Live In Nürnberg 1976 – Part 2 + Rarities
Stargazer – Live in Nürnberg 1976
Still I’m Sad – Live in Nürnberg 1976
Do You Close Your Eyes – Live in Nürnberg 1976
Getaway (Kill The King) – Studio Rehearsals for 1976 World Tour*
Mistreated – Studio Rehearsals for 1976 World Tour*
Sixteenth Century Greensleeves – Studio Rehearsals for 1976 World Tour*
Catch The Rainbow – Studio Rehearsals for 1976 World Tour*

CD NINE: Rarities
The Temple Of The King – Bolivian Mono Mix
Man On The Silver Mountain – Mono Edit
Man On The Silver Mountain – Stereo Edit
Tarot Woman – Rough Mix
Run With The Wolf – Rough Mix
Starstruck – Rough Mix
Do You Close Your Eyes – Rough Mix
Stargazer – Rough Mix
A Light In The Black – Rough Mix
Stargazer – Pirate Sound Tour Rehearsal
Starstruck – Mono Edit
Starstruck – Stereo Edit

*Previously unreleased

Wave Of The Flood Releases Heartfelt Single “Afraid To Be Loved”

Eric Alper
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Wave Of The Flood Releases Heartfelt Single “Afraid To Be Loved”

While Valentine’s Day weekend often leans into romance, contemporary folk artist Wave Of The Flood offers something more vulnerable with “Afraid To Be Loved.” The quietly devastating new single is the ninth installment in an ambitious run of twelve monthly releases, created in tribute to the storytelling power of the 45rpm single and timed to coincide with artist Lindsay Strachan’s 45th year.

Strachan calls the song her most personal to date. Reflecting on mid-life and modern dating, she wrote it for women who feel unseen in love stories. “I realised how many of my friends were quietly giving up on finding love,” she says. “These wonderful women weren’t being recognised in song. This one is for them. It may not change anything, but to be seen is to be loved.”

Musically, the track is marked by restraint and emotional clarity. For the first time in the series, John McCusker appears on both fiddle and accordion, lending fragile warmth to the arrangement. Produced by Kris Drever of Lau, who also contributes guitar, the recording features John McDonald on double bass and was captured by Garry Boyle at The Slate Room Studio, allowing the lyric to sit front and center.

“Afraid To Be Loved” is available now on all major streaming platforms, continuing a project that honors the immediacy and impact of the single as an art form.

Jill Scott Brings ‘To Whom This May Concern’ And Classic Hits To Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Jill Scott Brings ‘To Whom This May Concern’ And Classic Hits To Tiny Desk

Jill Scott has finally made her long-awaited Tiny Desk debut, celebrating her new album ‘To Whom This May Concern,’ her first in more than a decade, while delivering the live magic fans have cherished for over 25 years. Opening with “A Long Walk” from ‘Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1,’ she blended new tracks “Beautiful People” and “Don’t Play” with beloved staples like “Cross My Mind” and a show-stopping “The Way.” Backed by a full band including Dwayne “DW” Wright on bass and music direction, Adam Smith on guitar, Eric Wortham II on keys and a dynamic horn and vocal section, Scott reminded everyone that her music lives and breathes onstage, soulful, commanding and deeply personal.

SET LIST
“A Long Walk”
“Beautiful People”
“Cross My Mind”
“Don’t Play”
“The Way”

Hollywood Acting Legend Robert Duvall Has Died At 95

Eric Alper
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Hollywood Acting Legend Robert Duvall Has Died At 95

The film world says goodbye to Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor whose seven-decade career shaped modern cinema. From quiet, watchful outsiders to thunderous commanding officers, Duvall brought depth, restraint, and lived-in truth to every frame. He died February 15, 2026, at 95, leaving behind one of the most respected legacies in Hollywood history.

Here are 25 lesser-known facts about the man behind the performances.

  1. He made his film debut as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, barely speaking yet stealing scenes.
  2. He studied under legendary acting teacher Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
  3. His classmates included Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman.
  4. He once worked as a Manhattan post office clerk while chasing auditions.
  5. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1954.
  6. He earned his first Oscar nomination for The Godfather as Tom Hagen.
  7. He turned down The Godfather Part III over a salary dispute.
  8. His “napalm in the morning” speech in Apocalypse Now is one of cinema’s most quoted monologues.
  9. He won his Academy Award for Best Actor for Tender Mercies.
  10. He insisted on singing his own songs in Tender Mercies.
  11. He called his role in Lonesome Dove his personal favorite.
  12. He won two Emmy Awards, including one for Broken Trail.
  13. He founded his own production company, Butcher’s Run Films.
  14. He wrote, directed, and starred in The Apostle.
  15. He portrayed Joseph Stalin in the HBO film Stalin.
  16. He portrayed General Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals.
  17. He trained in Argentine tango and maintained a tango studio.
  18. He practiced Brazilian jiu-jitsu later in life.
  19. He received the National Medal of Arts in 2005.
  20. He became one of the oldest Oscar nominees ever for The Judge.
  21. He appeared in over 60 films across seven decades.
  22. He supported historic preservation efforts in Virginia.
  23. He co-founded the Robert Duvall Children’s Fund.
  24. He remained active in film into his 90s.
  25. He often described acting as living truthfully between action and cut.

Robert Duvall never chased flash. He built characters from the inside out, often letting silence speak louder than dialogue. Whether in Westerns, crime dramas, war epics, or intimate character studies, he anchored stories with gravity and authenticity. His performances endure because they feel human first, legendary second.

‘Animals Against The Wall – A Tribute To Pink Floyd Volume II’ Brings All-Star Cast To Classic Albums

Eric Alper
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‘Animals Against The Wall – A Tribute To Pink Floyd Volume II’ Brings All-Star Cast To Classic Albums

‘Animals Against The Wall – A Tribute To Pink Floyd Volume II’ will be released May 1, 2026 via Cherry Red Records’ Lemon imprint, with a U.K. release on April 24. The 3-CD clamshell box revisits Pink Floyd’s 1977 album Animals alongside 1979’s The Wall, building on the label’s 2025 tribute set ‘Shining On – Pink Floyd Tribute Collection.’

The new volume spotlights the late-1970s creative interplay between Roger Waters and David Gilmour, interpreted by an all-star lineup from the worlds of progressive, classic and art rock. Performances largely honor the original arrangements while incorporating modern production elements and updated textures.

Contributors include Ian Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, Keith Emerson, Robby Krieger, Al Di Meola, Arthur Brown, Billy Cobham, Vinnie Moore, Graham Bonnet, John Wetton, Adrian Belew, Glenn Hughes and Tommy Shaw, among many others.

Animals Against The Wall – A Tribute To Pink Floyd Volume II:
DISC ONE Back Against The Wall

In The Flesh? – feat. Adrian Belew, Alan White & Steve Porcaro
The Thin Ice – feat. Ian Anderson & Tony Levin
Another Brick In The Wall Part 1 – feat. Steve Morse & Billy Sherwood
The Happiest Days Of Our Lives – feat. Billy Sherwood & Vinnie Colaiuta
Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 – feat. Fee Waybill, Ronnie Montrose & Mike Porcaro
Mother – feat. John Wetton, Adrian Belew & Alan White
Goodbye Blue Sky – feat. Steve Howe & Billy Sherwood
Empty Spaces – feat. Billy Sherwood & Robby Krieger
Young Lust – feat. Glenn Hughes
One Of My Turns – feat. Tommy Shaw
Don’t Leave Me Now – feat. Tommy Shaw & Robby Krieger
Another Brick In The Wall Part 3 – feat. Steve Lukather & Tony Levin
Goodbye Cruel World – feat. Billy Sherwood & Tony Levin

‘Document And Eyewitness: An Intimate History Of Rough Trade’ By Neil Taylor Chronicles Indie Music’s Defining Label

Eric Alper
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‘Document And Eyewitness: An Intimate History Of Rough Trade’ By Neil Taylor Chronicles Indie Music’s Defining Label

‘Document And Eyewitness: An Intimate History Of Rough Trade’ by Neil Taylor offers a definitive inside account of one of the most influential independent record labels of the past fifty years. First published to critical acclaim, the book returns in a 2026 edition featuring new material from Taylor and a foreword by Morrissey.

Through the voices of Geoff Travis, Jarvis Cocker, Robert Wyatt, Green Gartside and many others, Taylor traces the story of Rough Trade from its early days championing artists such as Cabaret Voltaire, Kleenex and Swell Maps. The narrative moves through landmark releases by The Fall, The Smiths and Scritti Pollitti, documenting how the label helped shape the sound and ethos of independent music.

The book also examines the collapse of the independent collective and the eventual rebirth of Rough Trade at the turn of the century. By weaving together firsthand accounts and cultural context, Taylor captures the urgency and ambition that defined the label’s rise and enduring influence.

A former publisher who worked at Secker & Warburg, Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Sinclair-Stevenson, Taylor also compiled the legendary C86 mix tape during his time at NME. ‘Document And Eyewitness’ stands as an essential chronicle for anyone interested in the evolution of independent music and the artists who changed its course.

‘Have Mercy Baby: The Life Of Clyde McPhatter’ By Steve Bergsman Celebrates A Rock And Roll Pioneer

Eric Alper
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‘Have Mercy Baby: The Life Of Clyde McPhatter’ By Steve Bergsman Celebrates A Rock And Roll Pioneer

Have Mercy Baby: The Life of Clyde McPhatter by Steve Bergsman arrives February 18, 2026 as part of the American Made Music Series, offering a detailed portrait of one of early rock and roll’s most influential voices. McPhatter’s soaring tenor helped define the genre, from his breakthrough with The Dominoes to founding The Drifters and launching a solo career that reshaped rhythm and blues.

Born in North Carolina and steeped in gospel tradition, McPhatter brought spiritual fervor to the R&B stage. His vocals on “Sixty Minute Man” and “Have Mercy Baby” helped propel doo-wop into the mainstream. At Atlantic Records, he guided The Drifters to success with “Money Honey,” playing a central role in the label’s rise as a cornerstone of American R&B.

As a solo artist, McPhatter scored crossover hits including “A Lover’s Question” and “Treasure of Love,” expanding his influence even further. He remains one of the few artists inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet behind the spotlight, he faced the pressures of fame, personal struggles and isolation.

Drawing on exclusive interviews with family members and close associates, Bergsman presents the most comprehensive account to date of McPhatter’s life and legacy. The book honors a pioneering artist whose voice laid the foundation for soul, rock and R&B, and whose influence continues to echo decades later.

Sound Royalties Closes Record 2025 With $135 Million Funded To Creators

Eric Alper
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Sound Royalties Closes Record 2025 With $135 Million Funded To Creators

Sound Royalties has announced a record-breaking 2025, distributing $135 million in funded contracts directly to creators worldwide. The milestone year also marked the company’s expansion into financing for YouTube creators and TV production companies, addressing growing global demand for creator-focused funding solutions.

High-profile recipients of funding in 2025 included two-time Grammy-nominated songwriter Tayla Parx and producer Jon Gilbert, known for his work with Foster The People, Kurt Vile and Mt. Joy. Dominican rapper El Alfa also received a substantial new round of funding, alongside numerous other award-winning and globally recognized creatives.

Founded in 2014, Sound Royalties was built to provide customized funding without requiring creators to sell or relinquish copyright ownership. In 2025, the company more than doubled its assets under management generated through referred business, reflecting over 100 percent year-over-year growth and expanding its reach to creators in more than 30 countries across the US, UK, EU, LATAM and APAC regions.

“This record performance is all the more gratifying for us because it means millions of actual dollars have been contracted and deployed to creators,” said Founder and CEO Alex Heiche. Managing Partner Michael Bizenov added that increasing referrals from attorneys, business managers and music companies underscores the trust placed in Sound Royalties’ model, which offers fixed fees and terms without requiring creators to sell rights, pledge collateral or surrender ownership.

Adam Sandler To Receive ASCAP Founders Award At 2026 ASCAP Experience

Eric Alper
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0
Adam Sandler To Receive ASCAP Founders Award At 2026 ASCAP Experience

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers will honor Adam Sandler with the ASCAP Founders Award at the 2026 ASCAP Experience on February 12 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The award recognizes Sandler’s contributions to music and songwriting across comedy, film and popular culture during his 33-year tenure as an ASCAP member.

“Adam is a giant of comedy, and so many of his most hilarious onscreen moments are based in music and song,” said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams. “From Opera Man to ‘The Chanukah Song’ to ‘Grow Old with You,’ Adam’s genius ability to seamlessly blend comedy and music helps us all appreciate the wonders and absurdities of life and love.”

With nearly 450 ASCAP-registered works, Sandler has built a catalog spanning SNL staples such as “The Thanksgiving Song,” “Lunchlady Land” and “Red Hooded Sweatshirt” to his tribute to Chris Farley in the Netflix special 100% Fresh. He has released six albums, including double-platinum titles They’re All Gonna Laugh at You! and What the Hell Happened to Me?, and earned three Grammy nominations.

Now in its 20th year, ASCAP Experience convenes songwriters, composers and producers for panels, workshops and performances. The 2026 lineup includes Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Justin Tranter, James Fauntleroy, Andreas Carlsson, Darrell Brown, Theron “Neff-U” Feemster, Nova Wav and Mark Sonnenblick, offering a full day of creative insight and industry connection.

The Jim Henson Company Announces ‘Wowsabout’ For PBS KIDS

Eric Alper
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0
The Jim Henson Company Announces ‘Wowsabout’ For PBS KIDS

The Jim Henson Company is bringing a new live-action preschool special to PBS KIDS with Wowsabout, a 22-minute adventure starring original puppet characters. Set against the sweeping backdrop of Sequoia National Park, the special celebrates the power of awe through the unlikely friendship of Ronald, a fastidious little pig, and Roxy, a musical hedgehog.

Created and written by Halle Stanford and Dorien Davies, Wowsabout follows Roxy’s quest to find the park’s “magical giants” while Ronald focuses on earning his junior ranger badge. Their journey blends music, art and playful misadventures, showing young viewers how curiosity and friendship can grow from exploring the natural world together.

The special is rooted in a curriculum developed by emotion scientist Dr. Dacher Keltner, author of “AWE: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.” By spotlighting moments of wonder in nature and everyday life, Wowsabout encourages children to recognize awe as a feeling that sparks creativity, kindness and connection.

“Wowsabout brings The Jim Henson Company’s rich legacy of puppetry into the natural world,” said CEO Lisa Henson. With John Tartaglia directing and performing Ronald and Dorien Davies voicing Roxy, the production pairs heartfelt storytelling with research-backed emotional learning, inviting families to begin their own “Wowsabouts” when the special premieres later this year.

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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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