John Legend and The Roots have collaborated on a new album called Wake Up, which features covers of Soul songs from the 60’s and 70’s. While that is pretty awesome in its own right, what better way to scrounge up some press then by covering one of the best songs in the last decade by the Arcade Fire, that’s ALSO called “Wake Up”! Here is the cover, continue reading...
If you wait long enough every genre will be revived for a new generation of music fans. Over the past 15 years Ska, Swing and Folk have all seen various levels of new attention. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are currently leading the pack of a new wave of 70’s Soul/Funk/Motown sound that has been sorely missed. Well, maybe not… I mean the Motown music from the 70’s was so amazing that you’d almost think there is no need for a revival of the sound. Luckily Sharon Jones and her band are the real deal. Listening to the music you’d swear it was actually recorded in the same era as the classics that everyone is familiar with. The band is based out of Brooklyn (which is where it seems all the coolest bands are these days…) and their latest album is 2010’s I Learned The Hard Way. For your listening pleasure is the first single and title track, continue reading...
NEW YORK –KID CUDI, whose unique multi-format breakout hit single, “Day ’N’ Nite” is a radio and digital smash, is joining the artist roster of Universal Motown, the label announced today.
“Kid Cudi is at the vanguard of a game-changing new generation of artists,” said Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone. “He crosses musical boundaries with an appeal that goes beyond genre, format, race, language, and culture. Cudi lives easily in the hip-hop, indie rock, pop, and R&B worlds – a diversity that shows in his innovative music and his all-embracing persona. He is a born storyteller who brings a positive, life-affirming message to his brilliant lyrical flow and compelling music. There are no clichés in what Cudi does. He is a breath of fresh air – a dynamic and important new voice, not only in the next phase of hip-hop, but as a groundbreaking trendsetter who represents the future. I am thrilled to welcome Kid Cudi into the Universal Motown family.” continue reading...
On a special Wednesday, March 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) performance show, the Top 10 finalists (Kris Allen, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Megan Joy, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver) will return to the ‘Idol’ stage to celebrate and pay tribute to “50 Years of Motown” as well as perform classic Motown songs.
Tune in the following night Thursday, March 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) to find out if the judges use their save or if America sends another finalist home. Also, Smokey Robinson will perform, and ‘American Idol’ winner Ruben Studdard will return to the ‘Idol’ stage to perform his new single, “Together.” continue reading...
“Someone once said ‘…the album will sound like the time you had making it’…. Never before has it been as true as in the process of recording this record,” Seal said. “Although David and I had been acquaintances before, we’d never quite managed to work together. Upon doing so, I was quick to realize that I was in the presence of true greatness. I’ve worked with a lot of producers before, but never have I come across anyone as naturally gifted and knowledgeable as David. If you are fortunate enough to have that combination, then you find that the album-making process tends to go very swiftly, making this the smoothest and most enjoyable album I have ever made. And if you are exceptionally fortunate, you find yourself also having made a great friend. I cannot thank him enough.” continue reading...
Delta Spirit’s highly anticipated album Ode to Sunshine will be released on August 26th. Below is a link to the first single “Trashcan” off of the album:
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Check out Raphael Saadiq’s first single “Love That Girl” off of his upcoming album The Way I See It, in stores SEPTEMBER 16th. continue reading...
In many ways, he’s one of the music industry’s best kept ‘secrets’ although staunch music fans from London and Los Angeles to Tokyo and New York City will readily attest to Leon Ware’s artistry as not merely a legendary songwriter and producer but as a brilliant artist and performer in his own right. A music maker for four decades, Leon’s amazing list of impressive credits includes classic recordings by Quincy Jones, Minnie Riperton, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, Average White Band and of course, the late Marvin Gaye (whose Ware-written and produced “I Want You” LP remains a seminal Motown album). Leon readily confesses that even with a catalog of nine of his own albums released since 1972, “I’ve never really been out there as a fully-fledged recording artist and performer because of my love for producing and writing. Now,” he emphasizes, “it’s time to do that…”
The impetus, Leon says, is MOON RIDE, his debut album for Stax/Concord Records. The twelve songs that comprise the Ware-produced collection of new material easily validates Leon’s stance as a true master of musical sensuality. In the tradition of his previous recordings and work with others, songs on the new album like “Just Take Your Time,” “Hold Tonight” and “Smoovin’” are love-filled odes, a heady mix fantasy and reality. continue reading...
Inspired by the likes of Prince, Carole King and Stevie Wonder and musical genres such as Motown, hair metal and classic rock, Ianuzzi is a classically trained pianist and saxophonist who uses her musical inspirations to create witty songs loaded with wordplay and pop-culture references.
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BACK TO FRONT, THE NEW ALBUM FROM THE TEMPTATIONS,
FEATURES FRESH TAKES ON CLASSIC POP AND R&B HITS,
FROM “RESPECT YOURSELF” AND “HOLD ON, I’M COMIN’”
TO “NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP” AND “HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE” continue reading...
