Music news #1 8/29/08

Every so often, I accumulate some music news tidbits that I will now share with everyone in this space, rather than just keeping them to myself in my notebook. They are random, and I’ll post them periodically as I gather a bunch. Here is installment number one!

AC/DC

Add AC/DC to the list of acts releasing music solely through Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores. Their new album, Black Ice, will be sold through these stores and on the band’s website starting October 20. This is being done with the full cooperation of AC/DC’s label home, Columbia Records. “Rock ‘N’ Roll Train” is the first single. Black Ice will be AC/DC’s first album since 2000’s Stiff Upper Lip.

BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES

Look for a new Christmas album from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones called Jingle All The Way. Rounder Records will released the album on September 30. Andy Statman, Edgar Meyer and the Alash Ensemble (Tuvan throat singers) will guest. This is the first Flecktones album on Rounder after the group’s recent release from Columbia Records. Bela Fleck started his recording career in 1979 on Rounder. A tour will follow that will conclude with a four night run at the Blue Note here in New York. Songs on the album will be “Jingle Bells”, “Silent Night”, “Sleigh Ride”, “The Christmas Song”, “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”, “J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio”, “Christmas Time Is Here”, “Linus And Lucy”, “Jingle Bells (Reprise)”, “The Hanukkah Waltz”, “Danse Of The Sugar Plum Fairies”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “Medley”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, “River”.

THE SMITHS

Look for a new Smiths anthology called Hang The DJ: The Very Best Of The Smiths. The album will be out October 7 on Rhino Records. There will be a single disc and double disc version. 23 songs on the regular edition in chronological order. The two disc version blends album tracks with B sides, alternate versions and live songs.

KINKY

Look for a new album from Kinky called Barracuda, due on September 30 digitally and on CD in February 2009. Kinky and Money Mark produced the album.

BOB DYLAN

Bob Dylan will endorse a line of harmonicas made by Hohner USA. The harmonicas are called Bob Dylan Signature Series and will feature a machine stamp of Dylan’s signature. In addition to the Signature Series, Hohner will make available 25 sets of seven harmonicas and 100 individual harmonicas. Each is hand signed by Dylan and both are set to go on sale in October.

GENESIS

Rhino Records comprehensive Genesis reissue campaign will conclude on November 11 with the release of the box set Genesis 1970 - 1975. The set will be a 7 CD and 6 DVD collection - the third and final box set of the series. The new (and final) box will feature the albums Trespass,  Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. All these albums were done while Peter Gabriel was the lead singer of Genesis.

THE REPLACEMENTS

Steve Foley, who played drums with the Replacements at the tail end of their career, dies last weekend in Minneapolis. He was 49. Foley died after accidentally overdosing on prescription medication. Foley joined the Replacements in 1990, replacing Chris Mars. By the summer of 1991, the Replacements broke up. Steve would then become a member of Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson’s band Bash And Pop. Of late, Steve Foley was a car salesman in Minneapolis.

JACKSON BROWNE

Jackson Browne will soon release his first new studio album in six years. The album will be called Time The Conqueror and will come out September 23 on his label, Inside Recordings.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD

Look for a new album in early 2009. Lynyrd Skynyrd have been working with John 5, who worked with Marilyn Manson and now plays with Rob Zombie.

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND

The Allman Brothers Band is planning to use next year’s engagement at the Beacon Theatre as the focal point of their 40th anniversary celebration. They are trying to round up as many people as they can to play with. They are also planning to record a new album next year.

OASIS

Oasis will release their new album, Dig Out Your Soul, on October 7 on Big Brother / Warner Brothers. It’ll be an album getting the band back to it’s stripped down rock roots. They will be touring North America with Ryan Adams.

THE VERVE

The Verve considers it’s new album, Forth, the reunited group’s first album in eleven years, to be the beginning of a new era and the continuation of a career that’s been interrupted by two previous break ups.

NEIL YOUNG / WILCO / DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

Wilco and Death Cab For Cutie will open for Neil Young during Neil’s upcoming fall NorthAmerican tour. Death Cab For Cutie will open the first portion starting October 14 and Wilco jumps on board November 29. Everest will also play on all dates. Wilco will be on the bill for the tour’s final date, at Madison Square Garden December 15.

WILCO

Wilco hopes to release a new album by spring 2009.

LILY ALLEN

Lily’s second album is all finished and ready to go, but is being slowed down by record company issues. It may be out later this year or early 2009. Greg Kurstin (the Bird and the Bee, Action Figure Party, ex-Geggy Tah) co-produced it.

BEACHWOOD SPARKS

Beachwood Sparks will soon record their third album, after some live shows. Their last release was an EP in 2002. The band then went on hiatus.

SQUEEZE

Despite having reunited for a U.S. tour, don’t expect a new album from Squeeze any time soon. Chris Difford says that they aren’t talking about that right now. Glenn Tilbrook has a solo album coming soon and Chris just released his latest album, The Last Temptation Of Chris. That said, that doesn’t mean Squeeze will never record new music, just not any time soon. Squeeze’s last album was released ten years ago (Domino).

ZZ TOP

ZZ Top has signed on with American Recordings and will record their next album with Rick Rubin producing (Crosby, Stills and Nash are also going to work with Rubin on their next album...of covers). One idea Rubin has had was to hook ZZ Top up with the Black Keys!

QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS

October 28 is the date for The Cosmos Rocks, the first studio album Brian May and Roger Taylor have done with Paul Rodgers (in my opinion...I have no problem with the three recording together, in fact I welcome it. But, May and Taylor aren’t Queen and shouldn’t be using the name). The first single, “C-lebrity” features Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighters. They’ll tour North American in early 2009.

THE CURE

The Cure’s new album will be called 4:13 Dreamand will be released October 14 on Suretone / Geffen. This album was supposed to be released a year ago. It has been preceded by the release of singles on the 13th day of each of the past four months. Those tracks, “The Only One”, “Freakshow”, “Sleep When I’m Dead” and “The Perfect Boy” will be released on September 13 on a remix EP called “Hypnagogic States”.

Thanks for reading “my notes”!