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Beach Boys bring 'Sounds of Summer' to North American audiences |
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The Beach Boys, who earlier this summer released a new best-of set
titled "Sounds of Summer," remain on the road into the fall to support the
album.
Headed up by founding Beach Boys member Mike Love and longtime member
Bruce Johnston, the group--which has been on the road for much of this
year--has a busy itinerary that stretches into mid-October, and has also
penciled in a few December dates.
Included in the group's plans is an Oct. 14 performance in the Virgin
Islands, part of a special cruise event dubbed the Kokomo Cruise. More
information about the event is posted at the band's website.
"Sounds of Summer," which arrived in stores on June 10, contains 30 of
the Beach Boys' Top 40 hits, including "Surfin' Safari," "Little Deuce
Coupe," "Help Me Rhonda," "Barbara Ann," "Good Vibrations" and "Kokomo."
Last month, Capitol Records issued a DVD-Audio version of 1966's "Pet
Sounds," widely considered the Beach Boys' best album. The DVD-A release
includes the album's original 13 tracks, as well as 7 bonus cuts,
track-by-track notes, photo galleries and more.
Though touring under the Beach Boys moniker, the only original Beach
Boys member on the current outing is Love, who licensed the group's name
for this tour, according to the band's official fan club website.
Johnston is the only other holdover from the band's mid-'60s glory
days; in late 1964, he joined as a touring member after cofounder Brian
Wilson announced that he was retiring from live performances.
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Album releases pushed back for 'American Idols' Studdard, Aiken |
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The debut album from "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard will be in
stores on Nov. 11--about two months later than expected--while runner-up
Clay Aiken's set will hit stores on Oct. 14, a month behind its
originally announced release date.
Studdard's "Soulful" was executive produced by J Records head Clive
Davis. He already has recorded cuts featuring Fat Joe and R. Kelly,
according to a press release.
"As you know, I've been touring non-stop and haven't had the chance to
make my album the way I want to," Studdard said in a statement. "In
order to work with the best of the best--Missy [Elliott], R. Kelly, Harold
Lilly, Static, etc.--I need time to vibe with them so that I can put
out the best album possible."
Aiken has traveled to Los Angeles, Miami and London for recording
sessions, working with executive producer Davis and producers and
songwriters including Steve Mac, Cliff Magness, Desmond Child, Steve Morales and
Rick Nowels. His forthcoming album is not yet titled.
Though Studdard won the "American Idol" competition, Aiken's debut
single has fared better on the singles chart. Both singles were released on
the same day in June.
Aiken's single "This is the Night / Bridge Over Troubled Water" sold
392,975 copies during its first week in stores, the biggest one-week
sales tally for any single since Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997."
Studdard's "Flying Without Wings / Superstar" sold 285,917 copies during
its first week in stores, and debuted at No. 2 on the singles sales
chart.
Plans originally called for Studdard and Aiken to release their albums
simultaneously in August.
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Backstreet members going solo |
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If you are dying to find out what the Backstreet Boys have been up to
since their last album, here is something to wet your curiosity.
First of all, stop the speculation that they are breaking up. The truth
is, they are going solo with their music nowadays. Four of the five
members of Backstreet Boys are now recording their solo LPs, which would
imply that they won't be releasing a new album as a group anytime soon.
However, the 'boys' have announced that they have no plans to quit the
group just yet.
"It's important to point out that the group has not disbanded," Brian
Littrell's attorney Jordan Keller assured the music fans. "They
certainly intend to record as a group in the future, they just don't know
when."
As you faithful fans probably know, Nick Carter released his first solo
album "Now Or Never" last year. Currently working with his producer
Tommy Lee and co-writing his songs, Nick Carter is showing a tendency for
delving into rock music. A.J. Mclean too, is going in the rock
direction for his solo music.
While Nick and A.J. are indulging in rock, Howie Dorough is exploring
his talents in Latin music. He will be producing his songs in both
English and Spanish. He is currently collaborating with veterans such as
Emilio Estefan and Steven Morales, who are also the producers for artists
like Enrique Iglesias and Christina Aguilera.
For Brian Littrell, he is hoping to integrate gospel music into his
musical undertaking, giving gospel music a fresh dimension amidst the pop
music today. Brian, who grew up singing in his church, sees this as his
desired direction in his musical path.
"There's a wide range in Christian music," Keller said. "From Michael
W. Smith to choirs, there's a lot of room to work with."
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Sting Takes 'Sacred Love' To Paris |
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Sting will unveil the material from his new A&M album, "Sacred Love,"
during a Sept. 22 concert at Paris' L'Olympia. The show will be open
only to members of Sting's fan club, although the general public can
register for tickets and membership for a limited time. "Sacred Love"
arrives Sept. 23 internationally and Sept. 30 in North America.
Additional details have come to light about the set's companion DVD, to
be released Oct. 6 internationally and a day later in North America.
"Inside the Songs of Sacred Love" was taped in mid-May at Los Angeles'
Mayan Theatre in front of invited guests and contest winners. As she does
on "Sacred Love," Mary J. Blige joined Sting for the duet "Whenever I
Say Your Name."
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Forthcoming album for the Chili Peppers |
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While in the studio to record new tracks for a forthcoming hits
collection, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have written and recorded 15 new songs,
according to a post by bassist Flea on the band's official Web site.
The band had been working with producer Rick Rubin on the new tracks,
two or three songs were intended for "Greatest Hits," due Nov. 11 from
Warner Bros. The album is expected to collect material from the group's
Warner Bros. releases, beginning with 1991's "Blood Sugar Sex Magik."
It is unknown what will become of the balance of the new recordings.
"We played a wide variety of music arranged into song format that is
among the most diverse and dynamic good feeling s*** we have ever done,"
Flea wrote in the post. "It is the fastest we have ever recorded so
much material ... I can't wait for y'all to hear it."
The band is currently touring European festivals and will return to
North America with 13 dates beginning Sept. 6 in Washington, D.C., with
support from Queens Of The Stone Age and French Toast. The Chili Peppers
are out in support of last year's "By the Way," which debuted at No. 2
on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1.7 million copies in the U.S.,
according to Nielsen SoundScan.
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New single from Rasmus |
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The Rasmus has made it to number one not only in our Top 40 (for two
weeks) but were also number one in Finland (3 weeks) back in February.
In August they were number 1 in Germany, number 2 in Switzerland and
Austria. Since early in August, the Scandinavian fans of the Rasmus can
buy the brand new single of "In my Life" a previously released single
that you can find on the album Dead Letters. Star Radio has chosen to
play The latest single "First day of my life". Will it be their future
number one ?!
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Open door on the 13th of September at Neverland |
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Michael Jackson is to open his world-famous Neverland Ranch to 500
paying guests next month.
According to the pop star's publicist, Stuart Backerman, the invitation
only event will take place on September 13 with guests paying £3,000
for a pair of tickets.
Backerman said £630 from each sale would be divided between three
charities, with the remaining ticket price paying for the cost of the
extravagant party.
Guests - who will be entertained by magicians, games and "a lorry full
of stuffed animals", will also receive dinner and a goodie bag valued
at around £600.
The Neverland Ranch estate in Santa Barbara County, California, also
features an amusement park with dodgems, a carousel and a Ferris wheel.
As previously reported, Jackson settled an ongoing legal dispute with
his former business managers earlier this year after they branded the
star a "ticking financial time bomb".
By settling the lawsuit, Jackson avoided disclosing the state of his
finances in court. However, the move prompted speculation that his £8m
Neverland property would soon be put up for sale.
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Hendrix definitely the Greatest |
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Jimi Hendrix has been named the greatest guitar player ever by yet
another poll.
This time it was the turn of Rolling Stone magazine who compiled the
list of usual suspects, crowning Hendrix their No.1.
Hendrix - who first shot to fame in 1967 and died in 1970 - beat Allman
Brother Duane Allman to the top spot with BB King in third place and
Eric Clapton in fourth.
The remainder of the Top 10 was occupied by Robert Johnson, Jimmy Page,
Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ry Cooder.
Only two female guitarists made it into the Top 100 - Joni Mitchell at
72 and Joan Jett at 87.
Hendrix topped a similar list by Total Guitar Magazine back in August 2002.
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Cher keeps saying goodbye |
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Seems like Cher isn't ready to ride off into the sunset yet; the singer
has again extended her long-running farewell tour, which now supports
her just-released live CD and DVD.
Cher's outing, dubbed "Living Proof--The Farewell Tour," began in June
of last year, and new dates will keep the run rolling until late
October.
The tour's remaining dates follow Tuesday's (8/26) release of "Cher
Live: The Farewell Tour," a concert DVD that features 18 songs recorded
during her Nov. 8, 2002 concert in Miami. The footage was originally used
as part of NBC's "Cher's Living Proof Farewell Tour" television
special.
Also out on Tuesday (8/26) is "The Very Best of Cher: The Special
Edition," a re-released version of the hits collection that first surfaced
in March. The updated set includes a second disc that houses the audio
versions of the 18 tracks that appear on the new live DVD. A
limited-edition, single-disc version of the live tracks is also available.
Cher's set lists during her farewell tour have spanned her
four-decade-long career. The show features a seven-piece band and several dancers,
as well as video clips highlighting the greatest moments of her music,
film and TV careers.
According to tour promoter Clear Channel, costume changes come with
almost every song. The two-tiered set includes a mechanical elephant,
acrobats on rings and ropes and colorfully clad dancers.
Cher, 57, first rose to fame with partner and then-spouse Sonny Bono.
During her subsequent solo career, she has enjoyed several cycles of
prominent commercial success, the most recent of which occurred in 1998.
It was during that year that her single "Believe," featured on the album
of the same name, hit No. 1. The song went on to garner Cher the 1999 GRAMMY®
award for Best Dance Recording.
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