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Little Feat Celebrates 50 Years of ‘The Last Record Album’ with Deluxe Edition

Eric Alper
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Little Feat Celebrates 50 Years of ‘The Last Record Album’ with Deluxe Edition

Little Feat has returned to one of the most creatively adventurous periods of their career with the release of ‘The Last Record Album (Deluxe Edition)’. Out now in 4-CD, 2-LP, and digital formats, this expanded set features a comprehensive remaster of the original 1975 classic alongside a treasure trove of rarities and previously unreleased studio material. The release highlights a pivotal shift in the band’s history where the songwriting voices of Paul Barrère and Bill Payne stepped forward alongside Lowell George, producing staples like “All That You Dream” and “Long Distance Love.” Fans can also hear a previously unreleased Halloween 1975 concert from Boston’s Orpheum Theatre, capturing the band locked into the legendary groove that would soon define their legacy.

The deluxe edition dives deep into the vaults, offering early sketches, raw demos, and alternate takes that provide a new perspective on the album’s sessions. Produced by Jason Jones, the collection also includes an exclusive standalone CD release of a 1976 London performance available through Rhino’s webstore. With new liner notes by historian Dennis McNally and the iconic “jackalope” artwork by Neon Park, this reissue honors the band’s sophisticated blend of rock, jazz, and R&B. Whether it’s the aching vulnerability of the newly restored “Long Distance Love” video or the high-energy live medleys, this 50th-anniversary celebration cements ‘The Last Record Album’ as a vital cornerstone of the Little Feat catalog.

‘The Last Record Album (Deluxe Edition)’ Track Listing:

CD 1: 2025 Remaster Romance Dance, All That You Dream, Long Distance Love, Day Or Night, One Love Stand, Down Below The Borderline, Somebody’s Leavin’, Mercenary Territory

CD 2: Hotcakes, Outtakes, Rarities Down Below The Borderline (Demo), Rockin’ Shoes 1 & 2 (Demo), Fool On The Avenue (Demo), All That You Dream (Alt), Mercenary Territory (Alt), Long Distance Love (Alt), Romance Dance (Alt), High Roller, Day Or Night (Instrumental), Front Page News (Outtake), Long Distance Love (Rough Mix), All That You Dream (Single Version)

CD 3: Live at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA (10/31/75) Two Trains, Skin It Back, Fat Man In The Bathtub, Walkin’ All Night, A Apolitical Blues, Oh Atlanta, On Your Way Down, Day Or Night, All That You Dream

CD 4: Live at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA (10/31/75) Romance Dance, Long Distance Love, Medley: Cold Cold Cold/Dixie Chicken/Tripe Face Boogie/Bag Of Reds/Tripe Face Boogie (Reprise), Willin’, Teenage Nervous Breakdown, Spanish Moon

Thomas Rhett Completes Summer Era with ‘About A Woman (Deluxe)’

Eric Alper
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Thomas Rhett Completes Summer Era with ‘About A Woman (Deluxe)’

Multi-platinum country sensation Thomas Rhett has officially rounded out his massive summer of music with the release of ‘About a Woman (Deluxe)’. Out now across all streaming platforms, the project serves as Rhett’s most extensive and dynamic work to date, featuring a total of 25 tracks that explore the many shades of devotion and romance. This final deluxe version introduces three new recordings—”Water,” “Chapter 10,” and “On a River”—which provide a cinematic conclusion to a project defined by high-energy charisma and emotional depth. The album arrives on the heels of the chart-topping success of “After All The Bars Are Closed,” which recently secured Rhett’s 24th career No. 1, further solidifying his status as one of Nashville’s most prolific and versatile hitmakers.

Throughout the summer, Rhett has consistently unveiled new layers of ‘About a Woman’, incorporating standout collaborations with the likes of Blake Shelton, Jordan Davis, Teddy Swims, and Tucker Wetmore. From the retro Southern soul of “Ain’t a Bad Life” to the flirtatious spirit of “Bottle With Your Name On It,” the new material has served as the backbone for his hugely successful ‘Better in Boots Tour’, which included a historic headlining debut at Fenway Park. Rhett expressed profound gratitude for the fan reception, noting the joy of seeing these songs become part of his audience’s lives in real-time. Whether delivering pounding dance-floor beats or stripped-back front-porch ballads, the deluxe collection captures the full spectrum of Rhett’s evolving artistry and enduring connection to his fans.

‘Hamilton’ Celebrates a Decade of History with ‘Hamilton: 10 Shots’

Eric Alper
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‘Hamilton’ Celebrates a Decade of History with ‘Hamilton: 10 Shots’

To commemorate ten years since the cultural phenomenon ‘Hamilton’ changed the face of Broadway, the release of ‘Hamilton: 10 Shots (Highlights from the Original Broadway Cast Recording)’ marks a milestone anniversary. Out now on CD and multiple limited-edition color vinyl pressings, this curated set features ten iconic tracks hand-selected by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The collection maintains the show’s legendary narrative arc while spotlighting all ten principal cast members. From the defiant energy of “My Shot” to the soaring reflection of “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” the album captures the emotional sweep of the best-selling cast recording of all time. Vinyl editions also include a collectible poster featuring original cast photos.

In addition to the physical highlights album, the tenth-anniversary celebration includes five new digital EPs that dive deeper into the journeys of individual characters. ‘Eliza’s Story’, ‘Burr’s Story’, ‘The King George III EP’, ‘Angelica’s Story’, and ‘Washington’s Story’ are all available to stream now, blending original cast performances with tracks from ‘The Hamilton Mixtape’ and the ‘Hamildrops’ series. These EPs feature an array of superstars including Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, and The Roots. With the filmed version of the show returning to theaters this week, fans have more ways than ever to revisit the revolutionary storytelling that has spent over 500 weeks on the Billboard 200.

‘Hamilton: 10 Shots (Highlights from the Original Broadway Cast Recording)’ is a masterful condensation of a modern masterpiece, perfectly timed for fans to celebrate a decade of the room where it happened.

CRAFT RECORDINGS Relaunches HIGHTONE RECORDS with Historic Vinyl Release of ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’

Eric Alper
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CRAFT RECORDINGS Relaunches HIGHTONE RECORDS with Historic Vinyl Release of ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’

Craft Recordings has officially relaunched HighTone Records, the influential label that helped define the American roots landscape throughout the 1980s and 90s. Reimagined as a curated home for blues, country, rockabilly, and gospel, the imprint returns with a mission to bring foundational artists and timeless recordings back into focus for a new generation. The first wave of activity is led by the first-ever vinyl pressing of the acclaimed tribute album ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’, out now. Originally released in 1994, the collection was executive produced by Americana icons Tom Russell and Dave Alvin, who sought to honor Haggard’s immense songwriting legacy during a time when his lyrical depth was often overlooked by the mainstream.

‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’ features a staggering lineup of roots royalty delivering 15 inspired performances of Haggard’s vast catalog. Standout moments include Lucinda Williams’ world-weary take on “You Don’t Have Very Far to Go” and Iris DeMent’s stunning rendition of “Big City”—a performance Haggard himself claimed reached depths of sincerity he hadn’t even reached as the writer. The record spans genres to reflect the breadth of Americana, from the outlaw grit of Billy Joe Shaver and Robert Earl Keen to the soulful R&B of Barrence Whitfield and the power-pop sensibilities of Marshall Crenshaw. By pulling from the deep archives of HighTone, Rounder, and Vanguard, the relaunch of HighTone Records promises to be a vital heartbeat for the preservation and celebration of American musical history.

Track Listing:

A1. Tom Russell – Tulare Dust/They’re Tearin’ the Labor Camps Down
A2. Iris DeMent – Big City
A3. Peter Case – A Working Man Can’t Get Nowhere Today
A4. Dwight Yoakam – Holding Things Together
A5. Robert Earl Keen and The Sunshine Boys – Daddy Frank
A6. Joe Ely – White Line Fever
A7. Rosie Flores – My Own Kind of Hat
A8. Steve Young – Shopping for Dresses
B1. Marshall Crenshaw – Silver Wings
B2. Barrence Whitfield – Irma Jackson
B3. Lucinda Williams – You Don’t Have Very Far to Go
B4. Billy Joe Shaver – Ramblin’ Fever
B5. Katy Moffatt – I Can’t Be Myself
B6. John Doe – I Can’t Hold Myself in Line
B7. Dave Alvin – Kern River

LARKIN POE Celebrates Creative Rebirth with ‘An Acoustic Companion Volume II’

Eric Alper
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LARKIN POE Celebrates Creative Rebirth with ‘An Acoustic Companion Volume II’

Grammy-winning sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, better known as Larkin Poe, have released ‘An Acoustic Companion Volume II’, a stripped-down extension of their chart-topping 2025 album ‘Bloom’. Out now via Tricki-Woo Records, the five-track collection reimagines key songs from the LP in a vulnerable, intimate setting. Recorded at the duo’s new Crosstie Recordings studio in Nashville, the project is led by a raw, unplugged rendition of the contemplative track “Mockingbird.” The sisters describe the process as a “re-blooming” of their recent work, allowing the lyrics to take center stage against a backdrop of acoustic instrumentation. The release is available on all streaming platforms and as a limited-edition picture disc vinyl exclusive to their webstore and tour dates.

The arrival of the acoustic volume comes as Larkin Poe continues their massive ‘Bloom’ world tour, which has seen the duo perform for sold-out crowds across the United States and Europe. Produced alongside Tyler Bryant, ‘Bloom’ solidified the Lovell sisters as modern torchbearers of American roots music, spending weeks at the top of the Americana charts with hits like “Easy Love Pt. 1” and the gritty anthem “Pearls.” Currently nominated for Duo/Group of the Year at the Americana Music Awards, Larkin Poe remains one of the hardest-working acts in the industry. As they transition into a heavy fall touring schedule across the UK and Europe with special guest Son Little, this acoustic companion offers fans a deeply personal look at the storytelling and soulful harmonies that define their evolving musical journey.

YELLOW SOUND LABEL Releases All-Star Studio Recording of ‘Winchell: The Musical’

Eric Alper
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YELLOW SOUND LABEL Releases All-Star Studio Recording of ‘Winchell: The Musical’

Yellow Sound Label has released the premiere NYC studio recording of ‘Winchell: The Musical’, a long-lost theatrical work centered on the life of legendary gossip columnist Walter Winchell. Originally slated for a Broadway debut in 1991 before being derailed by a production scandal, the score finally arrives on streaming and digital formats. The project features music by Keith Levenson and lyrics by the legendary Martin Charnin alongside Levenson. This release serves a significant philanthropic purpose, with album proceeds benefiting the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, an organization that has supported Levenson in his personal battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The recording boasts an extraordinary crossover cast that bridges the worlds of Broadway and classic rock. Jason Robert Brown stars as the staccato-voiced media icon, joined by an eclectic ensemble including Roger Daltrey, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper, Darlene Love, and Sally Struthers. From its vaudeville roots to its Jazz Age slang, the musical explores Winchell’s legacy as the man who transformed journalism into entertainment and practically invented modern celebrity culture. After more than thirty years in the shadows, this melodic and delightful score is out now, offering theater fans a rare opportunity to hear a piece of Broadway history while supporting a vital cause in medical research and patient care.

THE BETHS Unveil Intimate New Single “Mother, Pray For Me” from ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’

Eric Alper
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The Beths have shared their third single and video, “Mother, Pray For Me,” a profoundly personal and stripped-down track that highlights the emotional core of their new album ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’. Moving away from the band’s signature power-pop energy, the song features Elizabeth Stokes alone with a finger-picked guitar and a subtle organ, delivering a wistful plea for connection and understanding. Stokes wrote the track as she grappled with her relationship with her mother, an Indonesian immigrant, and the complexities of faith, mortality, and family history. This vulnerable approach follows the punchy lead singles “No Joy” and “Everything is Burning,” showcasing the startling new depths of insight that define the band’s latest era.

Out now via ANTI- Records, ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’ arrived on August 29, 2025, as the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2022 breakout ‘Expert In A Dying Field’. The album’s creation marked a significant shift in process for the New Zealand quartet, born from a period where Stokes intentionally deconstructed her songwriting routines to achieve a more therapeutic and free-flowing creative output. Recorded with guitarist and longtime producer Jonathan Pearce, the record has been hailed as the band’s most poetic and sharply observant work to date. To celebrate the release, The Beths have announced a series of intimate album release shows across New Zealand and Australia, alongside a massive 2026 world tour that kicks off in North America this January.

RAFIQ BHATIA Evokes an Ephemeral Summer Night on “Clearing, Crickets”

Eric Alper
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RAFIQ BHATIA Evokes an Ephemeral Summer Night on “Clearing, Crickets”

Composer and guitarist Rafiq Bhatia has shared “Clearing, Crickets,” a four-minute sonic meditation that serves as a cornerstone of his new album ‘Environments’. The track immerses listeners in the thick humidity of an August night, utilizing chirps, skitters, and languid horns to create a texture that feels more like the Earth left to its own devices than a traditional composition. Drawing inspiration from the monolithic sculptures of Richard Serra and the dreamlike cinema of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Bhatia meticulously builds a world where acoustic instruments mimic studio-engineered soundscapes. The single follows his recent work on the ‘Each Dream, a Melting Door’ collaborative EP, further pushing the boundaries of what modern ambient jazz can encompass.

Out now via ANTI- Records, ‘Environments’ features a trio of close collaborators, including Son Lux bandmate Ian Chang on percussion and trumpeter Riley Mulherkar. The album marks a significant evolution from the “science fiction” scale of his 2018 record ‘Breaking English’, leaning into a breath-driven, intentional approach to sound-shaping. A member of the Oscar-nominated trio Son Lux, Bhatia’s recent schedule has been prolific, from scoring Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts*’ to debuting site-specific arrangements at the Aspen Art Museum. By focusing on expressive gestures and “world-building” through sound, ‘Environments’ offers a deeply focused listening experience that captures the complexities of the natural world through a high-fidelity lens.

MADI DIAZ Embraces Stark Vulnerability on New Album ‘Fatal Optimist’

Eric Alper
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MADI DIAZ Embraces Stark Vulnerability on New Album ‘Fatal Optimist’

Grammy-nominated songwriter Madi Diaz has released her seventh studio album, ‘Fatal Optimist’, a project that strips away production layers to reveal the rawest emotional core of her career. Out now via ANTI- Records, the album was recorded with co-producer Gabe Wax at his Infinite Family Studio and marks the final chapter in a trilogy of heartache that began with 2021’s breakthrough ‘History of a Feeling’. Following the end of a long-term relationship, Diaz retreated to an island for a period of deep introspection, emerging with a collection of songs that find her alone in a room with her acoustic guitar. This minimalist approach allows her brutal lyrical observations and finely crafted melodies to take center stage, creating a hauntingly intimate listening experience that explores the risk and “weird faith” required to keep a heart open.

The album’s release was preceded by the quietly anthemic single “Ambivalence,” which dissects the unsettling feeling of being caught in romantic indecision. It follows the lead track “Feel Something,” an urgent acoustic number exploring the desperate need for connection. Since the record’s debut, Diaz has taken these songs on the road, including a major North American fall tour and high-profile festival appearances. Looking ahead, she is set to bring the ‘Fatal Optimist’ tour to the UK and Europe in early 2026, starting with dates in London, Paris, and Berlin. By leaning into the starkness of her own isolation, Diaz has created a body of work that celebrates inner wholeness and the resilience found in being a “fatal optimist.”

Madi Diaz 2026 European Tour Dates:

  • Jan 19 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake Underground
  • Feb 4 – Edinburgh, UK @ Cabaret Voltaire
  • Feb 5 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
  • Feb 7 – Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade
  • Feb 9 – Bristol, UK @ Exchange
  • Feb 10 – Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
  • Feb 11 – London, UK @ Oslo Hackney
  • Feb 14 – Paris, FR @ Les Etoiles
  • Feb 18 – Berlin, DE @ Mikropol
  • Feb 19 – Cologne, DE @ Blue Shell

CURTIS HARDING Commands the Groove with New Single “The Power” from ‘Departures & Arrivals’

Eric Alper
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0
CURTIS HARDING Commands the Groove with New Single “The Power” from ‘Departures & Arrivals’

Visionary soul artist Curtis Harding has released his latest single, “The Power,” a vibrant disco anthem that pairs shimmering strings with an infectious, roller-disco-ready groove. The track serves as a high-energy preview of his expansive new album, ‘Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt’, which is out now. Conceptually framed as a soul-stirring space opera, the project follows the journey of Captain Curt as he navigates distant galaxies in a quest to find his way home. Harding explains that while the song fits this celestial narrative, it also serves as a timely reminder for people to reclaim their joy and live life fully, even amidst political and social turbulence.

Self-produced at Adrian Quesada’s Electric Deluxe Recorders in Austin, ‘Departures & Arrivals’ marks a confident return to the director’s chair for Harding. The album moves fluidly between moody space-funk, baroque-pop, and psychedelic rock, all anchored by his signature captivating vocals. This latest body of work follows his acclaimed 2021 release, ‘If Words Were Flowers’, and emphasizes the importance of the journey itself when one feels adrift. By handling the production personally, Harding has created a sonic world that is both uncompromising and deeply human, featuring live full-band recordings that capture the raw essence of his “slop ‘n’ soul” style.

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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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