LCD Soundsystem gave everyone an early holiday present by releasing with a tweet, their new single “Christmas Will Break Your Heart”, their first new song in five years. The band broke up in 2011, but could this be the start of a full-on reunion? Stay tuned.
LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy released the song with the following message:
Christmas Will Break Your Heart
https://t.co/ZcJK2gUPP2 pic.twitter.com/ZnDrBfNuNW
— lcdsoundsystem (@lcdsoundsystem) December 24, 2015
At a guess, almost every single one of you reading this blog knows the name Kellylee Evans. Many are fans, an astounding amount know her kindness in person. One of the Queens in jazz and as a human being, Kellylee lives this fragile life we all have with taste, class and ease. The equally strong, generous, and considerate jazz singer/fellow Toronto Music Advisory Council member Amanda Martinez just brought this turn of events of Kellylee to my, and others, attention. She needs our help. Let’s do this. Here’s Amanda’s note from the GoFundMe page she set up for Kellylee. I just donated. You should, too.
Kellylee Evans is known to many in Canada as the Juno award winner for best jazz album (Nina) and in France as a rising star. If you have seen her perform or met her, you have been charmed by her vivacious personality, stunning voice and endearing heart.
Two years ago Kellylee was hit by lightning – something rare that can cause brain damage like a stroke. For months she was confined to a wheelchair – not knowing if she would be able to walk again, but still kept performing in order to provide for her family.
Unfortunately by not giving her body a chance to properly rest this delayed her recovery and last month she hit her head resulting in a concussion. Many of the symptoms she had from her initial lighting strike reappeared. Her doctor insisted she cancel all tour dates and has instructed her to be on bed rest indefinitely. She’s been told to keep her eyes closed and not look at a computer, so working from her bed is not an option for proper healing.
Kellylee is in a critical situation, a single mother with three children to support. I am asking you to make a donation to this fundraising page to help her during this vulnerable time. I believe that jazz and music fans who have been blessed by her music will give back at the time she needs us the most.
Please consider making a donation to keep Kellylee and her beautiful three children strong and hopeful during this time of healing.
If you are new to Kellylee, I invite you to check out her music and see why she is such a life and musical force.
Funds will go directly to Kellylee and her family to cover daily expenses (groceries, shelter, daily and medical expenses)
Please feel free to share Kellylee’s music and this page with your friends.
With love and hope,
Amanda Martinez
Here’s a smart dog switchinh places in the treat line to get extra while the other dogs wait patiently.
In a new clip, Kendrick Lamar tutors a young boy the ways of working hard. It’s obviously paid off for Lamar, with his 11 Grammy nominations and arguably the best album of the year in To Pimp A Butterfly.
Barack Obama continues his supremacy for the best social media by a leader of a nation as he appears with Jerry Seinfeld when the seventh season of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee debuts on Wednesday, December 30th. Other guests driving around with Seinfeld include Will Ferrell, Steve Martin, Garry Shandling, Kathleen Madison, and Sebastian Maniscalco.
https://youtu.be/ySHIsWcwY3Y
Here’s a great video showing the Harrison Ford (Han Solo) Casting for Star Wars with Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker). Even in the beginning, you can see Harrison’s unique presence and outstanding character.
In the United States, a class ring is a sign of accomplishing years of school, spending many long hours studying and passing tests assigned in dozens of subjects. You can get one in sports, in music, and now, in texting…wait…what?
The ring company Balfour does offer a texting accomplishment on its brochure. It’s on page 15 between Student Council and Accounting. I’d still like one in texting.
-via Kevin D. Williamson
As The Stone Roses prepare to continue their unexpected resurrection in 2016, the new issue of Q reveals the band’s secret history in a 26-page special. On sale on Tuesday (29 December), the stories of Ian, John, Mani and Reni are told individually by the people who know them best.
One of this year’s most acclaimed series of special edition albums, the long-awaited, 12-album, 28-disc collectors’ box gift set Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection is now available. The individual albums celebrate the anniversaries of Disney’s most cherished and classic films that have been enchanting audiences for generations.
This CD series combines great songs, background scores and rare recordings from over a half-century of animation classics–plus music from Disneyland® Park. In addition to remastered tracks, each album in Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Setcomes in its own hardcover book, filled with art treasures, exclusive essays, and new illustrations by Lorelay Bove, a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Tangled”, “Winnie the Pooh”, “Wreck-It Ralph”). Bove was recently named one of ’10 Animators to Watch’ by Variety (March 3, 2015) and her art can be seen in the hardcover book, Lovely: Ladies of Animation: The Art of Lorelay Bove, Brittney Lee, Claire Keane, Lisa Keene, Victoria Ying and Helen Chen.
Designed for display, all 12 albums are presented in a specially fitted collectors’ slipcase. The 28-disc Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Set contains over 130 songs; 270 instrumentals; 75 “Lost Chords” deleted songs and demos; and much more–totaling over 25 hours of matchless entertainment for all ages.
The 12 albums in the new box set are as follows:
The Lion King
The Oscar and Grammy-winning songs by Elton John and score by Hans Zimmer plus 30 minutes of expanded underscore and Lost Chords demos not used in the film.
Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in an artistic triumph of Walt Disney and the Sherman Brothers, including the debut new recording of the lost song, “The Eyes of Love.” Album includes the Sherman Brothers’ demos of the film’s songs and is the largest collection of Lost Chords original demos and new versions in the entire series.
Sleeping Beauty
The magnificent music of Tchaikovsky is transformed into one of Disney’s most dramatic and memorable scores, plus special versions from vinyl record master tracks.
The Little Mermaid
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s multi-award-winning music and songs with the original demo recordings and previously unreleased background score.
Fantasia
Leopold Stokowski’s complete FantaSound score from the innovative film, the complete digital score conducted by Irwin Kostal plus bonus tracks by Sterling Holloway.
Pinocchio
One of the most brilliant scores in movie history—it introduced “When You Wish Upon a Star”—plus six new-to-CD Mickey Mouse Club songs sung by Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards).
Cinderella
The Oscar®-nominated score and all the songs from the animated classic, plus The Lost Chords, featuring 7 original demos and new versions.
Toy Story
Randy Newman’s hit songs and score from the Disney/Pixar’s landmark animated feature, as well as bonus tracks and three never-before-released background tracks.
Pocahontas
Majestic music of Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”) plus songs that were deleted from the finished score and original demos sung by Menken himself.
Lady and the Tramp
An eagerly requested soundtrack in the series showcasing the vocal and songwriting genius of Peggy Lee, plus bonus track and rare demos.
The Aristocats
From the Disney film favorite comes the famous score, including songs by the Sherman Brothers, the voices of Phil Harris and Maurice Chevallier. This is the first time the original soundtrack has been available in its entirety.
Disneyland
Beginning with the recordings from the opening day of Disneyland in 1955, the collection guides the listener down Main Street U.S.A., through the greatest attractions, shows and lands that exist today and those that are a happy memory.
The release of Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Set marks the first time such a massive body of musical and visual masterworks have been contained in a single package.
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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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