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Folk Singer-Songwriter Jack Schneider Releases “Crying In The Rain” Ahead of New Album ‘Streets Of September’ Out September 19

Eric Alper
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Folk Singer-Songwriter Jack Schneider Releases “Crying In The Rain” Ahead of New Album ‘Streets Of September’ Out September 19

Nashville-based singer/songwriter Jack Schneider releases “Crying In The Rain,” the latest single from his upcoming LP Streets Of September, which will come out on September 19. Schneider turns the Carole King cut originally performed by the Everly Brothers into a soft folk song with a gentle sound that evokes ’70s troubadours and is elevated by vocal harmonies from Wendy Moten (who has sung with folks like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Vince Gill and Bonnie Tyler).

On the new song, Schneider shares: “When I was eleven or twelve years old, my mom took me to see James Taylor and Carole King together on their reunion tour, and I vividly remember hearing this song in particular for the first time. It has haunted me since then, and despite digging through every version officially released, I’ve been unable to find a recording that encapsulated the spirit of that song the way I heard it for the first time. The version I recorded turned out differently, of course; but I included it on this record because there is magic in the song itself, and because it’s important to me to carry on songs I love from past generations to the next, to breathe life into them so that they can continue to grow beyond the places they came from.”

Following years on the road as Vince Gill’s rhythm guitarist, Schneider just wrapped a series of shows with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ahead of his AMERICANAFEST debut next week on Sept. 10 at the Analog and a Nashville album release show at the bluegrass mainstay The Station Inn on Sept. 23. He will also support Marty Stuart later this year before heading out with Australian guitar wiz Tommy Emmanuel on his extensive tour next April.

Last month, Schneider announced the new LP with the release of the warm, rootsy “Stone’s Throw Away,” which Atwood Magazine lauded as “a triumph of Jack Schneider’s own artistry – a dreamy, enchanting revelation full of heart, humility, and a whole lot of soul.” Produced by Matt Andrews (Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dawes), the new album finds Schneider reflecting on his experience battling a mysterious life-threatening illness and reaffirms the enduring power of storytelling in the face of loss and transcendence. Serving as both a personal reflection and a tribute to the people and places that shaped him, Streets Of September features a mixture of profoundly honest original material and revelatory interpretations. The album also includes a co-write with Gill: the bittersweet first single “How In The World.”

Serendipity is a word that surrounds Schneider and everyone in his orbit. In fact, he wasn’t even supposed to be making a new record, but when a friend cancelled a recording session he was scheduled to produce, he figured it was a sign to use the studio time to record another LP. In addition, Schneider was even able to pay the ultimate tribute to his late mentor Steve Weisberg, who played on his favorite album of all time An Evening with John Denver, by playing the same guitar Weisberg used on the album on what turned out to be 50 years to the day it was recorded.

Streets Of September was recorded live to tape at Burns Sound in Burns, TN with an all-star band of Nashville’s finest including Dom Billett, Jared Manzo, Tony Harrell, Andrea Zonn and Eddy Dunlap. It follows his critically-acclaimed debut LP Best Be On My Way, which featured Gill along with Stuart Duncan among others. Over the course of the last 10 years, he’s also shared the stage with folks like Emmylou Harris, the Eagles, Chris Stapleton and Sting, recorded songs with wildly diverse artists from Camila Cabello and FLETCHER to David Rawlings, and toured with Americana mainstays like The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. His prowess as a guitarist and musician has long been proven, now he’s ready to be seen as an artist in his own right, and the universe seems to agree.

Streets Of September Tracklist
1. Streets Of September
2. Footprints In The Sand
3. Crying In The Rain
4. How In The World
5. Stone’s Throw Away
6. Renee
7. Bright Eyes
8. Gulf of Mexico

Tour Dates
September 10 – Nashville, TN – AMERICANAFEST @ Analog at Hutton Hotel
September 11 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom ^
September 12 – Austin, TX – The Paramount Theater ^
September 20 – Decatur, AL – Princess Theatre #
September 23 – Nashville, TN – The Station Inn
September 28 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
October 28 – Nashville, TN – The Station Inn
November 15 – Decatur, AL – Princess Theater ^
April 8 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater *
April 10 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre *
April 12 – Boise, ID – The Egyptian Theatre *
April 15 – Bend, OR – Tower Theatre *
April 17 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre *
April 21 – Redding, CA – Cascade Theatre *
April 22 – Sacramento, CA – Crest Theater *
April 23 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theater *
April 24 – San Francisco, CA – Palace Of Fine Arts Theatre *
April 25 – Anaheim, CA – City National Grove of Anaheim *
April 26 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater *
April 28 – El Cajon, CA – The Magnolia *
April 29 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center*
April 30 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre *
May 1 – Albuquerque, NM – KiMO Theatre *
May 3 – Tulsa, OK – Cox Business Convention Center *

^ supporting Marty Stuart
# supporting Ricky Skaggs
* supporting Tommy Emmanuel

Tame Impala Unveils New Single ‘Loser’ with Video Starring Joe Keery

Eric Alper
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Tame Impala Unveils New Single ‘Loser’ with Video Starring Joe Keery

Tame Impala (Kevin Parker) unveils “Loser,” the second song of this new era. The track continues Parker’s fearless exploration of rhythm, texture, and sonic experimentation, building on the meticulous studio approach that has defined his career. The single is accompanied by a music video directed by KRISTOFSKI, and starring actor/musician Joe Keery (Stranger Things, Fargo).

Prior to today’s release, Parker gave fans a taste of what’s to come with the release of his sprawling, drum-beat heavy “End of Summer.” It drew listeners back to the acid house summer of ’89, free parties of the mid-90s, and Australia’s bush doofs in outback paddocks.

“Loser” continues Parker’s journey into new sonic territory, layering hypnotic rhythms and textures that push Tame Impala’s sound ever forward. Drawing from a rich history of dance music, his work transforms the imagined past into a sound that feels both present and eternal, reaffirming Tame Impala as one of modern music’s most visionary acts.

Nicki Bluhm Shares New Single ‘Tumbleweed’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Rancho Deluxe’

Eric Alper
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Nicki Bluhm Shares New Single ‘Tumbleweed’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Rancho Deluxe’

Today, Nicki Bluhm has shared her new single “Tumbleweed,” the next preview of her forthcoming album Rancho Deluxe, out October 3. Featuring infectious guitar riffs courtesy of American Aquarium’s Shane Boeker, the new song is about embracing life’s unpredictable twists and turns and was inspired by the memories of Bluhm’s rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. Atwood Magazine praised the track, calling it “a song of sweet surrender, celebrating the beauty and wonder of being fully present.”

About the new song, Bluhm says: “The guitar riff and tone by absolute shredder Shane Boeker (American Aquarium) kicks this song off and just puts a huge smile on my face, makes me wanna turn it up. Lyrically, ‘Tumbleweed’ is about letting go and trusting in what you cannot see. When I was writing, I had strong images of my time floating down the Grand Canyon. The overhanging cliffs are so imposing and the blind bends in the river are so vast, all you can do is wait and see what is revealed around each turn. You are at the mercy of nature’s pace; the wind, the current, the weather. There is no use in worrying or trying to control the situation, you surrender and appreciate the ride.”

“Tumbleweed” follows the stomping “Cumberland Banks” and the feel-good “Simple Side of Me”, which had Magnet Magazine raving that it “embodies all that’s refreshing about the new Nashville.” A musical patchwork quilt that captures Nashville’s collaborative spirit, Rancho Deluxe finds her reflecting on well-earned lessons from nearly two decades in the music business. Joined by her co-writer, producer and partner Jesse Noah Wilson and other first-rate musicians like Kai Welch (Kacey Musgraves), Jess Nolan (Jenny Lewis) and Cameron Neal (Elle King, Shakey Graves), they pulled from a swirl of influences, including folk-rock, western psychedelia and ‘60s West Coast soul. The end result features songs that are rooted in resilience, relaxation and the relationships she’s built with like-minded collaborators.

Rancho Deluxe arrives after Bluhm’s 2023 Cher tribute album, The Beat Goes On, and her 2022 original LP Avondale Drive which was met with acclaim from Relix, PopMatters, The Bluegrass Situation and Americana UK who raved, “Nicki Bluhm might have invented a whole new genre of music with her latest solo album.”

Over the years, the San Francisco native has toured with the likes of Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, sharing the stage with the same icons who have helped inspire her trademark mix of rock, California country and hippie soul. Full of that independent spirit, Rancho Deluxe ultimately shows that Bluhm couldn’t be any less interested in the rat race of the music industry these days. “I’m growing, I’m reflecting, and I’m recalibrating,” she says. “I’m forging ahead in a new way, but doing it on my own terms this time.”

Bluhm is currently on the road including a stop at Nashville’s AmericanaFest on September 10 at The 5 Spot. In October, she’ll be performing at NPR’s Mountain Stage in Charleston, WV – see below for a full list of dates or visit her website.

Rancho Deluxe:
1. Bay Laurel Leaves
2. Falling Out Of Dreams
3. Tumbleweed
4. Keep On Growing
5. Cumberland Banks
6. Change The Channel
7. Simple Side Of Me
8. Trying To Survive
9. Taking Chances
10. Long Time To Make Old Friends

Tour Dates:
September 10 – Nashville, TN @ AmericanaFest – The 5 Spot
September 12-14 – Jackson, WY @ Horseshoe Music Festival
October 4 – Madison, TN @ Lockeland Strings *
October 12 – Charleston, WV @ Mountain Stage
November 16 – Nashville, TN @ Skinny Dennis
November 21 – Felton, CA @ Felton Music Hall
November 22 – Mill Valley, CA @ Sweetwater Music Hall

* with Courtney Marie Andrews, The Kernal and Lydia Luce

Barry Manilow Announces Final UK Tour ‘The Last Last Concerts’ for June 2026

Eric Alper
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Barry Manilow Announces Final UK Tour ‘The Last Last Concerts’ for June 2026

Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning music icon Barry Manilow has announced a return to the UK in June 2026 with a new run of arena dates titled The Last Last Concerts. The shows follow his sold-out residency of fifteen performances at London’s Palladium earlier this year.

The new tour will see Manilow perform in six major cities: Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, and London. These concerts are being billed as the final UK appearances of his career, giving fans one more opportunity to see the legendary performer live.

Tour Dates:

06/09 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
06/11 – Leeds, First Direct Arena
06/13 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
06/14 – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
06/16 – Birmingham, bp pulse LIVE
06/17 – London, The O2 Arena

Callum Kerr Drops Video for ‘Used To Love This Town’ and Announces First Headlining Tour

Eric Alper
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Callum Kerr Drops Video for ‘Used To Love This Town’ and Announces First Headlining Tour

September 4, 2025 – Today, Callum Kerr shares the official video for “Used To Love This Town,” a standout track from his debut EP Roots Under Me. Recently named one of “10 Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know” by Holler, Callum has also drawn acclaim from Melodic Magazine, which praised Roots Under Me as “a strong debut that blends heartfelt songwriting, twangy instrumentation, and a broad folk-rock sensibility.”

Callum will kick off his first-ever headlining tour later this month with dates across Texas and Oklahoma. Earlier this year, he made his CMA Fest debut and took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry for the very first time, following a personal invitation from Dustin Lynch.

CALLUM KERR FALL HEADLINE TOUR:

9/25: Austin, TX @ Antone’s Nightclub
9/26: San Marcos, TX @ Cheatham St Warehouse
9/27: Corpus Christi, TX @ Brewster St Icehouse Downtown
9/28: San Antonio, TX@ Paper Tiger
10/2: Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
10/3: Fort Worth, TX @ Magnolia Motor Lounge
10/4: Waco, TX @ The Backyard

Callum has always been immersed in country music, growing up listening to everything from the 1960s classics to today’s hits. In addition to his music career, Callum is an accomplished actor with roles in 13 films and television series. His recent credits include Netflix’s record-breaking hit drama Virgin River, where he plays young Everett, and the live-action adaptation of One Piece, part of one of the platform’s most-watched series where he portrays the fan-favorite character Smoker.

Kraftwerk’s Karl Bartos’ Debut Solo Album ‘Communication’ Returns with November 21 Reissue

Eric Alper
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Kraftwerk’s Karl Bartos’ Debut Solo Album ‘Communication’ Returns with November 21 Reissue

Bureau B announces the release of Karl Bartos’ debut album Communication, to be reissued on November 21st on CD/LP/DD. Renowned as an essential member and songwriter of Kraftwerk during their most innovative years, Bartos’ Communication was first released in 2003, 13 years after he left the legendary electronic group. The reissue arrives at a moment when its central theme, the transformation of culture through electronic media, feels more relevant than ever.

Listen to ‘I’m The Message’ below:

When Bartos departed Kraftwerk in 1990, he left behind a catalogue that had redefined electronic music: “The Model”, “The Robots”, “Numbers”, “Pocket Calculator” and many more bear his imprint as co-writer and melody-maker.

2021 Kraftwerk’s classic line-up was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for their innovative work – the first German band ever to be honored.

With the sharp witted electro-pop of Communication the Kraftwerk legend extended that legacy, turning his focus toward a rapidly evolving media landscape at the turn of the millennium. At the time, the album’s exploration of celebrity culture, digital imagery, and the early internet felt like a glimpse into the future. Today, it reads as sharp cultural analysis of a reality that has since become ordinary.

Two decades later, this reissue allows Communication to be reconsidered on its own terms. The questions Bartos posed, about image saturation, reality fragmentation, and identity commodification, resonate more strongly in the age of smartphones, social media, and streaming platforms than they did in the early 2000s.

Karl Bartos: ‘We are living in an age of huge behavioural mannipulation. Cybernetics, artificial intelligence – this is a major challenge for humanity.’

Bartos’s role in shaping Kraftwerk’s defining sound is undisputed, yet Communication also asserts his independent artistic voice: one that critiques media while celebrating the joy of electronic sound. Its re-release is less a nostalgic act than a reminder that Bartos’s work continues to speak directly to the cultural present. With this reissue on Bureau B, Communication endures as both a document of its time and a timeless statement on media, culture, and music.

Soft Cell Announce 6CD Super Deluxe Reissue of ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ Out October 31

Eric Alper
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Soft Cell Announce 6CD Super Deluxe Reissue of ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ Out October 31

 Electronic music pioneers Soft Cell announce a super deluxe 6CD reissue of their classic 1983 album ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ on the 31st October 2025 via Universal Music.  Soft Cell’s – aka singer and frontman Marc Almond and multi-instrumentalist and producer Dave Ball – second album is freshly remastered by Barry Grint from the original tapes and shows off the feted duo’s harder take on pop music in all its darkly textured and gothic-tinged glory.

For a taster of what’s to come, please watch the visualiser for ‘Ghost Rider’ above, an exclusive track featured across all three formats of the reissue. Originally a cover of track by iconic New York duo Suicide, ‘Ghost Rider’ has been recorded for the first time with brand new vocals from Marc, guest vocals from Jim Thirlwell from Foetus and saxophone from long term Soft Cell collaborator Gary Barnacle. Previously ‘Ghost Rider only existed live as part of the setlist of the band’s live shows during ‘The Art of Falling Apart’ era in 1983.  It was performed for the first time in nearly 40 years at Soft Cell’s show at New York’s legendary Beacon Theatre in 2022, with Jim Thirwell duetting with Marc once again.

Additionally, Soft Cell will release the ‘Martin’ EP featuring Dave Ball’s Halloween Mix digitally and as a limited 12″, also perfectly timed for 31st October (pre-order here).

Following directly on from 1982’s seminal one-of-the-first remix albums ‘Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing’, ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ reached No. 5 on the UK charts. As befits an album celebrating difference and choosing art over the glitzy 80s pop dream, ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ gloriously twists and turns between anger, frustration and destruction to beauty, reflection and unity.  Part of the emerging gothic scene of the early 1980s, the extended album spans the spiralling intensity of the title track and the terrifyingly great George A. Romero-inspired synth stabs of ‘Martin’ to the anthemic and brilliant portrait of the generation gap ‘Where The Heart Is’, epic bittersweet ballad ‘Loving You, Hating Me’ and the provocative single ‘Numbers’.

‘The Art of Falling Apart’ burst out of a period of pressure from then-label Phonogram to follow the rapid pop success of 1981 debut ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ and its chart-topping singles ‘Tainted Love’, ‘What!’, ‘Bedsitter’ and ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’. The reality of international pop stardom for two art students from Northern England was unwelcome and, frankly, uncomfortable. “We had an indie mentality”, explains Dave. “We got together at the tail-end of punk. I was originally just making music for Marc to do some performance art. He had heard my weird noises and bleeps coming out of the college music room and popped in. I did some music for him, and he then asked me what else I had. So I played him these odd, mutant pop tunes I’d been writing, and he asked if he could sing on them. I’d tried doing the vocals myself, but I’m not a singer. Marc sang them and, almost by accident, we found ourselves as a duo. It spiralled into Soft Cell from there.”

Marc continues: “Our attitude at the time of ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ might have alienated some of our younger and more middle-of-the-road fans, but we were being honest with ourselves. Dave was listening to lots of new music. He was revisiting his soundtrack influences and electronic roots. I’d been going to The Batcave, the club in Soho, and was hanging out with Nick Cave and Siouxsie Sioux. I’d sung on a Psychic TV album and performed live in the collaborative band The Immaculate Consumptive with Nick Cave, Lydia Lunch and Clint Ruin. I was an art-school punk who enjoyed experimentation and confrontation, and all of that came to the fore on this record.”

Today, ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ is expanded in a super deluxe edition over six discs, features 35 previously unreleased tracks and follows in the footsteps of the hugely successful ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ 40th anniversary boxset in 2023. All is housed in a lavish 10”x 10” package, featuring the extended album, plus bonus 12” tracks, B-sides, rarities, remixes, instrumentals/dubs, brand new remixes and a full disc of demos as well as audio from live tv appearances from the time.  The super deluxe edition also includes a 60-page hardback book, new notes from esteemed journalist Adrian Thrills and images from long term Soft Cell collaborator, photographer Peter Ashworth. All making this a must have for die-hard Soft Cell fans and electronic music afficionados alike.

‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ will also be available as double LP and double CD packages, featuring highlights from the 6CD box with the LP pressed on colour vinyl. Pre-order in all formats here: https://SoftCell.lnk.to/

Since their reunion in 2018, Soft Cell have made a steady return to prominence and continue to shake things up in their ever provocative, uncompromising way. 2022’s fifth studio album ‘Happiness Not Included’ featured a chart-topping collaboration with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of Pet Shop Boys in ‘Purple Zone’ as well as collaboration with experimental queer artist CHRISTEENE. Most recently, Soft Cell toured Australia for the first time ever, followed by the States extensively in May and June with Simple Minds. Closer to home, Soft Cell’s headline set at Rewind festival in Henley-on-Thames on Saturday 16th August was a triumph. Always pushing forwards in the studio, Marc and Dave have just finished their next record entitled ‘Danceteria‘. Soft Cell’s sixth studio album is set for release in Spring 2026; full details are to follow.

‘The Art Of Falling Apart’ reissue tracklistings across all three formats:

6CD

CD1 – REMASTERED ALBUM, B SIDES, BONUS 12″
1. Forever The Same – remastered 2025
2. Where The Heart Is – remastered 2025
3. Numbers – remastered 2025
4. Heat – remastered 2025
5. Kitchen Sink Drama – remastered 2025
6. Baby Doll – remastered 2025
7. Loving You, Hating Me – remastered 2025
8. The Art Of Falling Apart – remastered 2025
9. Martin – remastered 2025
10. Hendrix Medley – remastered 2025
11. It’s A Mug’s Game (7″ Version) – remastered 2025
12. Barriers (7″ Version) – remastered 2025
13. Loving You, Hating Me – Special Mix / remastered 2025

CD2 – THE ART OF FALLING APART – EXTENDED ALBUM PLUS ORIGINAL 12″ B SIDES
1. Forever The Same (Original 12″ version) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
2. Where The Heart Is (Original 12″ version) – remastered 2025
3. Numbers (Original 12″ version) – remastered 2025
4. Heat (2018 extended version) – remastered 2025
5. Kitchen Sink Drama (2018 extended version) – remastered 2025
6. Baby Doll (2025 extended version) – previously unreleased
7. Loving You, Hating Me (Original 12″ version) – remastered 2025
8. The Art Of Falling Apart (2018 extended version) – remastered 2025
9. It’s A Mug’s Game (Original 12″ version) – remastered 2025
10. Barriers (Original 12″ version) – remastered 2025

CD3 – CURIOS, RARITIES, REMIXES & NEW MIXES
1. Ghost Rider (New 2025 version featuring Jim Thirlwell) – previously unreleased
2. Martin (The Hacker Remix) – previously unreleased
3. It’s A Mug’s Game (Dave Ball 2025 Re-Eq Version) – previously unreleased
4. Where The Heart Is (The Grid Remix) – remastered 2025
5. Baby Doll (Nightwreckers Remix) – remastered 2025
6. Barriers (Dave Ball Broken Down Angels Mix – Full Version) – remastered 2025 and full version previously unreleased
7. Martin (Dave Ball Halloween Mix) – remastered 2025
8. Where The Heart Is (Marcas Lancaster Remix) – remastered 2025
9. The Art Of Falling Apart (Atomizer Remix) – remastered 2025
10. Barriers (Dark Poets Remix) – remastered 2025
11. Heat (Yer Man 2025 Remix) – previously unreleased
12. Martin (Nightwreckers 2025 Remix) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased

CD4 – THE ART OF FALLING APART (DEMOS & LIVE TV APPEARANCES)
1. Forever The Same (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
2. Where The Heart Is (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
3. Numbers (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
4. Heat (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
5. Kitchen Sink Drama (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
6. Baby Doll (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
7. Loving You, Hating Me (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
8. The Art Of Falling Apart (Original 1982 demo) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
9. Numbers (Live on BBC ORS, 14/1/83) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased audio
10. Heat (Live on BBC ORS, 14/1/83) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased audio
11. Ghost Rider (Live on CH4 The Tube) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased audio
12. Numbers 7″ (DJ Version) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased audio
13. Heat (US Single Edit) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased audio
14. Baby Doll (Dave Ball Non-Stop Euphoric Dubbing version) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased audio
15. Numbers (Dave Ball Non-Stop Euphoric Dubbing version) – remastered 2025
16. Barriers (Dave Ball Broken Down Angels Dub version) – remastered 2025

CD5 – THE ART OF FALLING APART (INSTRUMENTALS & DUBS)
1. Forever The Same (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
2. Where The Heart Is (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
3. Numbers (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
4. Heat (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
5. Kitchen Sink Drama (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
6. Baby Doll (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
7. Loving You, Hating Me (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
8. The Art Of Falling Apart (Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
9. It’s A Mugs’ Game (12″ Instrumental version) – previously unreleased
10. Martin (2025 Dub Mix) – previously unreleased
11. Hendrix Medley (Instrumental) – previously unreleased
12. Barriers (Instrumental) – previously unreleased

13. Ghost Rider (Original 1983 Backing Track) – remastered and previously unreleased
CD6 – THE ART OF TOURING APART (LIVE IN LONDON 2018-2021 + MORE)
1. Forever The Same – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
2. Where The Heart Is – Live at Hammersmith Apollo – 16th November 2021 – remastered 2025
3. Numbers – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
4. Heat – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
5. Kitchen Sink Drama – Live at Hammersmith Apollo – 16th November 2021 – remastered 2025
6. Baby Doll – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
7. Loving You, Hating Me – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
8. The Art Of Falling Apart – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
9. Martin – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
10. Barriers – Live at The O2 Arena – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
11. Hey Joe/Purple Haze – Live in USA, 1983 – remastered 2025
12. It’s A Mug’s Game – Live at Hammersmith Palais, 1983 – remastered 2025
13. Ghost Rider – Live at Hammersmith Palais, 1983 – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased
14. Numbers – Live at Hammersmith Palais, 1983 – remastered 2025

2CD
CD1

1. Forever The Same – remastered 2025
2. Where The Heart Is – remastered 2025
3. Numbers – remastered 2025
4. Heat – remastered 2025
5. Kitchen Sink Drama – remastered 2025
6. Baby Doll – remastered 2025
7. Loving You, Hating Me – remastered 2025
8. The Art Of Falling Apart – remastered 2025
9. Martin – remastered 2025
10. Hendrix Medley – remastered 2025
11. It’s A Mug’s Game (7″ version) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased on CD
12. Barriers (7″ version) – remastered 2025 and previously unreleased on CD
13. Loving You, Hating Me – Special Mix – remastered 2025

CD2

1. Ghost Rider (New 2025 version featuring Jim Thirlwell) – previously unreleased
2. Where The Heart Is (12″ original version) – remastered 2025
3. It’s A Mug’s Game (Dave Ball 2025 Re-Eq Version) – previously unreleased
4. Numbers (12″ Original version) – remastered 2025
5. Barriers (12″ Original version) – remastered 2025
6. Loving You, Hating Me (12″ Original version) – remastered 2025
7. Forever The Same (12″ Original version) – remastered 2025
8. Heat (US Single Edit) – remastered 2025
9. Where The Heart Is – Live at The O2 – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
10. Numbers – Live at The O2 – 30th September 2018 – remastered 2025
11. It’s A Mug’s Game – Live at Hammersmith Palais, 1983 – remastered 2025

2LP

LP1

A1. Forever The Same – remastered 2025
A2. Where The Heart Is – remastered 2025
A3. Numbers – remastered 2025
A4. Heat – remastered 2025

B1. Kitchen Sink Drama – remastered 2025
B2. Baby Doll – remastered 2025
B3. Loving You, Hating Me – remastered 2025
B4. The Art Of Falling Apart – remastered 2025

LP2

C1. Martin – remastered 2025
C2. Hendrix Medley – remastered 2025

D1. It’s A Mug’s Game (7″ version) – remastered 2025
D2. Barriers (7″ version) – remastered 2025
D3. Ghost Rider – (New 2025 version featuring Jim Thirlwell) – previously unreleased
D4. Heat (US 7″ version) – 2025 remastered

HARDY Drops “Bottomland” Video Ahead of New Album ‘COUNTRY! COUNTRY!’ Out September 26

Eric Alper
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HARDY Drops “Bottomland” Video Ahead of New Album ‘COUNTRY! COUNTRY!’ Out September 26

Country rock superstar HARDY unveils the official music video for album track “Bottomland,” directed by Jay Miller and Caleb Donato. COUNTRY! COUNTRY! is set for release September 26 via Big Loud and is available for pre-save and pre-order digitally and across physical formats now. Get it here.

In anticipation of a big release day, Rough Trade Below will host HARDY and fans for an album signing event in New York City on September 26. Find details and purchase tickets here.

COUNTRY! COUNTRY! takes its name literally, ranging from celebrations of his youth in the Mississippi mud—“Bottomland” being named for a specific camo pattern HARDY favors for hunting—to commentary on the state of country music at large. In sum, it’s a celebration of what makes HARDY HARDY.

The forthcoming album and its singles have garnered enthusiastic early acclaim from Billboard, Forbes, Holler, Entertainment Tonight and more. “Favorite Country Song”—initially shared via recent EP COUNTRY! and performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!—is surging at country radio, and “Bro Country,” the latest album offering created with ERNEST, debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart last Friday.

HARDY is back on the JIM BOB World Tour for a slew of festivals and headline dates, culminating with his first-ever headline show at Madison Square Garden the week of COUNTRY! COUNTRY! release. Koe Wetzel, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Sikarus join as support on select dates. See below for full tour routing and visit hardyofficial.com/tour for more information.

The new album continues a monumental run for HARDY. He made his first ever appearance at the Grand Ole Opry earlier this year with Metallica’s James Hetfield in the audience and smashed through the first leg of his JIM BOB World Tour. In 2024, he released his No. 1 LP Quit!!; toured North America—including his first stadium show, a headline set at CMA Fest and many more; collaborated with heroes Fred Durst and Chad Smith; appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live!; hit 16 No. 1 songs; blew past six billion career streams and so much more.

The pride of Philadelphia, Mississippi has earned his reputation as “a promising purveyor of keeping the spirit of classic heavy Southern rock alive” (American Songwriter), “capable of writing the big hits for radio, obstinate enough to do something completely unexpected, and savvy enough to find the throughline for it all” (Rolling Stone). A five-time ACM award winner and two-time CMA award winner, HARDY has also won three CMA Triple Play awards, was named the 2022 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year and is a three-time AIMP Songwriter of the Year. He’s collaborated and shared stages with Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell and more.

Thelma & James Announce Debut EP ‘Starting Over’ Out September 19, Set for Grand Ole Opry Debut

Eric Alper
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Thelma & James Announce Debut EP ‘Starting Over’ Out September 19, Set for Grand Ole Opry Debut

Hot rising duo Thelma & James, comprised of married singer-songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge, are primed to release their debut EP Starting Over on September 19. The eight-song project marks a proper introduction to their artistry that has garnered quick acclaim from fans and peers alike. To celebrate the release, Thelma & James will make their Grand Ole Opry debut on September 23.

Pre-save Starting Over here.

“We are so excited to announce our very first EP together. These songs came together quickly and creating them felt so effortless,” share Thelma & James. “When we sat down to write back in December, there was no plan beyond getting a few ideas off our chests. We never imagined it would turn into a band, a record deal and now an entire project—but looking back, it feels inevitable.”

Porter of Thelma & James adds, “Jake is my best collaborator in every part of life, so it only makes sense that it translates into music too. This is just the beginning; we have so many songs… they just won’t stop flooding our brains.”

Both having forged successful solo careers, Porter and Etheridge are embarking on this new chapter as a duo. Not realizing the best writing partner was right under their noses the whole time, their first co-write in over a decade produced the project’s opening song and viral track “Happy Ever After You” – the catalyst for the duo itself. Porter and Etheridge co-wrote every song on Starting Over alongside trusted collaborators including production by Lonas. The resonance of “Happy Ever After You” opened doors for the duo to co-write with esteemed songwriters like GRAMMY® Award-winners Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna, Josh Osborne and more – ultimately penning songs that made the project.

Alongside “Happy Ever After You” that Billboard notes as a “pared-back ballad of a love undimmed by the time and miles between,” the EP features previously released songs like “Nostalgic for Nothing,” “Canaries in a Coal Mine,” “Chainsmokin Memories” that Atwood Magazine defines as “swampy Americana and bluegrass” and the “aching ballad” (Holler) “First Love.” Adding new songs to their growing catalog, Starting Over will introduce songs “Loser,” “Parking Lot Prayers” and “Starting Over.”

An undeniable force, married Nashville-based singer-songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge form the musical partnership Thelma & James. Not realizing the best writing partner was right under their noses the whole time, their first co-write in over a decade produced “Happy Ever After You.” Evolving organically from an impromptu video that earned praise from fellow artists like John Mayer, Luke Combs, Brandi Carlile and more, the song has since garnered over 20 million streams since its release. The pair signed to Big Loud Records in 2025 and have since released “First Love,” “Chainsmokin Memories,” “Canaries in a Coal Mine” and most recent “Nostalgic for Nothing.” Doubling down on the fortuitous new musical chapter, Thelma & James are set to release their debut EP Starting Over on Sept. 19. 

Starting Over track list

Writing credits in italics

  1. Happy Ever After You (MacKenzie Porter, Jake Etheridge)*
  2. Chainsmokin Memories (Jake Etheridge, Jordan Minton, MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Reynolds, Parker Welling)
  3. Loser (Jake Etheridge, Natalie Hemby, MacKenzie Porter)
  4. Parking Lot Prayers (Jake Etheridge, MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Weisband)
  5. Canaries in a Coal Mine (Jake Etheridge, Josh Osborne, MacKenzie Porter, Scott Stepakoff)
  6. Nostalgic for Nothing (Jake Etheridge, MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Reynolds, Parker Welling)
  7. First Love (Jake Etheridge, Lauren Hungate, MacKenzie Porter)
  8. Starting Over (Jake Etheridge, Lori McKenna, MacKenzie Porter)

Produced by Lonas

*Produced by Lonas, MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge

Elton John’s ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy’ Celebrated with 50th Anniversary Reissue

Eric Alper
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Elton John’s ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy’ Celebrated with 50th Anniversary Reissue

Half a century after it dominated charts around the world, Elton John’s seminal album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy will receive a 50th Anniversary Edition reissue, out on 24th October via UMR. The special reissue will be available on multiple formats, including 2LP, 2CD and 1LP, Live At Midsummer Music, Wembley Stadium 1975, which was the album’s live debut, as well as a booklet containing never-before-seen entries from Elton’s personal diary. All available to pre-order now here.

In 1975 Elton John was in the midst of a prolific run of unimaginable success, having broken into the mainstream in 1970 to become the biggest star on the planet. His 9th album in six years, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy would break new ground in a plethora of ways. A concept album devised with Elton’s longtime collaborator and lyricist Bernie Taupin, it told the chronological story of the early years of Elton (Captain Fantastic) and Bernie’s (the Brown Dirt Cowboy) musical careers in London as they struggled to break through.

Featuring the single ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’, the album went on to become the first in history to debut at #1 on the US Billboard 200 and the first to be certified Gold upon its release due to the number of pre-orders. It sold 1.4 million copies in its first four days and remained at the top of the chart for 7 weeks.

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was written aboard The SS France – at the time, the world’s longest passenger liner – as Elton was taking the leisurely route back to the US for a breather in a very hectic year. With a sheaf of words already provided by lyricist Bernie Taupin, Elton wrote the music using downtime in the liner’s music room, the Salon Debussy, committing everything to memory as he didn’t have a tape recorder, before recording at Caribou Ranch with longtime producer Gus Dudgeon.

Despite lacking the mega hits of its predecessors, Bernie’s wonderfully evocative lyrics combined with Elton’s achingly beautiful melodies to create a discrete masterpiece that sits alone amongst Elton’s work of the 70’s, becoming one of the biggest selling cult albums of all time. At its heart, it’s an album about the unbreakable kinship its writers shared, full of intense platonic love songs between the best of friends. Alan Aldridge’s iconic album artwork is one of the most instantly recognisable designs of the decade, placing Elton in the centre of a fanciful imaginary landscape, escaping from his rainy suburban bubble and riding his piano through the many distractions of pop stardom.

Speaking on the album, Elton John says: “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was the first album I’d ever made that was autobiographical, and it was the first time we’d gone into the studio with all the songs already written. We rehearsed it as a band, then went in and cut it more or less live. The band were at their absolute peak and you can hear it on the record. I think it’s the best thing we ever did. The songs were strong, Bernie’s lyrics were brilliant, and the atmosphere at Caribou was perfect. Seeing it go to Number One faster than anything I’d ever released felt like vindication, like the culmination of everything Bernie and I had fought for back in those bedsits in London.”

Speaking on the album, Bernie Taupin says: “Of all our recorded output Captain Fantastic has a very special place in my heart. Obviously it was emotionally rewarding as it chronicled a very special time in our lives. I’m not by nature one to wallow in nostalgia but hearing this album once again 50 years on reminds me of how very deep our bond of friendship and creativity ran.”

This 50th anniversary edition suite contains the 2016 remaster of the original album, previously unreleased session demos, plus Elton’s live performance of tracks from the album, recorded during the 2005 for the album’s 30th anniversary. It also includes a 28 page booklet, containing sleeve notes and Elton’s never-before-seen 1974 diary entries.

Amongst the various formats available to fans is a recording of Midsummer Music Live At Wembley, 1975. This performance, featuring the 10 Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy tracks, marked the first time Elton had played the album live, and is available for the first time on vinyl. With a stacked bill hand-picked by Elton that included Rufus with Chaka Khan, Joe Walsh, The Eagles and The Beach Boys, the 72,000 fans officially at Wembley Stadium (estimates put it closer to 100,000) were warmed up and ready to hear the hits. The decision, however, was made to play the newly released album in full from start to finish and, despite a restless crowd, many of whom left, the result is a quite remarkable recording of what would become a firm fan favourite album.

News of the reissue comes during a groundbreaking year for Elton that’s included his 10th UK #1 album, Who Believes In Angels?, created with close friend and eleven-time GRAMMY winning US superstar Brandi Carlile, as well as the release of the iconic live album Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper in July.

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition) tracklists:

2LP 
LP1:
Side A
1. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
2. Tower of Babel
3. Bitter Fingers
4. Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
5. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
 
Side B 
1. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
2. Better Off Dead
3. Writing
4. We All Fall In Love Sometimes
5. Curtains


LP2: 
Side A
1. Tell Me When The Whistle Blows (Session Demo)
2. Captain Fantastic Take 1 (Session Demo)
3. Writing (Session Demo)
4. We All Fall In Love Sometimes (Session Demo)
5. Captain Fantastic Take 2 (Session Demo)
6. Bitter Fingers (Session Demo)


Side B
1. Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
2. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
3. Better Off Dead (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
4. We All Fall In Love Sometimes / Curtains (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)

2CD
CD1:
1. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
2. Tower Of Babel
3. Bitter Fingers
4. Tell Me When The Whistle Blows
5.Someone Saved My Life Tonight
6. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
7. Better Off Dead
8. Writing
9. We All Fall In Love Sometimes
10. Curtains
11. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 
12. One Day At A Time 
13. Philadelphia Freedom 
14. House Of Cards

CD2:
1. Tell Me When The Whistle Blows (Session Demo)
2. Captain Fantastic Take 1 (Session Demo)
3. Writing (Session Demo)
4. We All Fall In Love Sometimes (Session Demo)
5. Captain Fantastic Take 2 (Session Demo)
6. Bitter Fingers (Session Demo)
7. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
8. Bitter Fingers (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
9. Tell Me When The Whistle Blows (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
10. Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
11. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
12. Better Off Dead (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)
13. We All Fall In Love Sometimes / Curtains (Captain Fantastic Live / 2005)

1LP: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy – Live At Midsummer Music, Wembley Stadium 1975

Side A 
1. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
2. Tower Of Babel (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
3. Bitter Fingers (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
4. Tell Me When The Whistle Blows (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
5. Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 

Side B
1. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
2. Better Off Dead (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
3. Writing (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
4. We All Fall In Love Sometimes (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 
5. Curtains (Live At Midsummer Music / 1975) 

About Elton John:
Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time. In the UK and US charts alone he has 2 Diamond, 43 Platinum or Multi-Platinum, and 26 Gold albums as well as over 85 Top 40 hits. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are six GRAMMYs, including a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony, two Oscars, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services”. In January 2024, Elton John joined Hollywood’s elite group of EGOT winners after securing his first-ever EMMY Award for his historic Disney+ live, concert special Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.

He holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997,” which sold over 33 million copies. Released in 2017 ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, became Elton’s 43rd UK Top 40 album and has spent over 300 consecutive weeks in the top 75 of the UK album charts, over 200 of these in the top 20. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. It topped the UK charts in January 2025, becoming his 9th UK number 1 album, achieving 4 times Platinum status in the process and is the longest charting album of Elton’s career 62-deep catalogue.

August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart history, having logged 71 entries, including nine No. 1s and 29 Top 10s. ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, an album of collaborations recorded during the COVID-19 Pandemic, was released in October 2021 and went straight to No. 1 in the UK album Charts, becoming Elton’s 8th UK No. 1 album in the process. Its lead single “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) with Dua Lipa” became a bona fide global hit, reaching No. 1 in over 20 charts world-wide, including the UK and Australia. Its success meant that Elton became the first ever solo artist to score a UK Top 10 hit single in six consecutive decades. In America, he holds the record for longest span between Billboard top 40 hits among soloists at 51 years and currently has logged 57 entries. Elton also holds the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart record with 18 No. 1s and 76 total songs. Summer of 2022 saw another global smash single, as Elton and Britney Spears released ‘Hold Me Closer’, a Top 5 hit in the UK and a No. 1 hit in the Australian single charts.

Elton announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018. The tour kicked off on 10th September 2018 in North America and subsequently saw Elton play 330 shows to over 6.25 million fans across the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia. The shows marked his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. In 2019 it was named Billboard’s Top Rock Tour and Pollstar’s Major Tour Of The Year. The U.S. leg of the tour concluded with 3 sell out shows at Dodger Stadium. The concert was live streamed on Disney + in every single territory the channel broadcasts in, a global first. Elton headlined Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in June 2023, the final UK show before the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour concluded. The Sunday night closer was widely heralded as one of the greatest performances in the festival’s rich history, attracting one of the largest crowds ever witnessed at the festival. It also received the biggest ever televised audience for a Glastonbury set, reaching 7.6m overnight on BBC1. Elton has delivered more than 4,600 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970.

2019 also saw the release of ‘Rocketman’ and global bestselling autobiography, ‘ME’. An epic fantasy musical motion picture of Elton’s life, ‘Rocketman’ has been a commercial and critical hit, taking close to $200m at the box office. It has won an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards and a Critics’ Choice Award and garnered four BAFTA nominations. The soundtrack was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award. ‘Elton John: Never Too Late’ follows Elton as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in an emotionally charged, intimate and uplifting full-circle journey. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish the documentary premieres in December 2024, on Disney+.

In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is a leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. So far the Foundation has raised more than $600 million for HIV/AIDS grants, funding more than 3,000 projects in over 90 countries. In June 2019 President Emmanuel Macron presented Elton the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Elton was awarded the Companion of Honour in the 2021 New Year Honours list in the UK. The highest acknowledgement in the list, Elton became one of only 64 people to hold the Honour. September 2022 saw President Biden awarding him the National Humanities Medal in recognition of his storied career and advocacy work to end AIDS. Always a tireless champion of new artists, Elton has been a leading industry voice in lobbying the government for young artists visa-free touring rights in Europe post Brexit.

In 2024, Fragile Beauty opened at the V&A Museum to widespread critical acclaim. Running until 2025, the exhibition showcases an unparalleled selection of the world’s leading photography from Elton and David Furnish’s collection.

2025 has seen the release of Elton’s chart topping album with close friend and eleven-time GRAMMY winning US superstar Brandi Carlile, Who Believes In Angels? A true collaboration between Elton, Brandi, Bernie Taupin and multiple GRAMMY Award winning producer and songwriter Andrew Watt, the ten track LP was a global critical and commercial success and Elton’s tenth UK number one album.

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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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