Search Results for: RCA Records

Los Angeles – Some of Elvis Presley’s first RCA recordings from nearly 50 years ago, including never-before-heard takes of “All Shook Up” and “Jailhouse Rock,” will be put up for bid on Sunday at an auction of show business memorabilia. The six unedited reel-to-reel tapes – “pre-master” originals from the private collection of the studio engineer who recorded them, are valued at between $30,000 and $50,000, according to international auction house Bonhams & Butterfields. Highlights will be played on Saturday for potential bidders at the Bonhams gallery in Los Angeles, marking their first public exhibition, auction spokesman Erik Simon told… Read more »

BURBANK, Calif. – Walt Disney Records honors one of the most celebrated and successful soundtracks of all time with the 40th anniversary release of the Mary Poppins 2-Disc Special Edition Soundtrack on November 16, 2004. The Mary Poppins collection features over 2 1/2 hours of content, including 13 never-before-released tracks, bonus interviews and commentary, a collectible 40-page booklet and a link to a sneak peek into the making of the new Mary Poppins stage musical. This must-have CD set compliments the fully restored and remastered Mary Poppins 40th Anniversary Edition DVD, available just in time for the holiday season on… Read more »

The success of the Black Eyed Peas flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that the music business sacrifices long-term artist development in favor of quick hits and short-term corporate profits. Signed to Interscope Records more than six years ago by chairman Jimmy Iovine, the progressive hip-hop group’s first two albums, “Behind the Front” in 1998 and “Bridging the Gap” in 2000 earned rave reviews but failed to go gold (shipments of 500,000 copies). The first album peaked at No. 139 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 197,000 units, according Nielsen SoundScan, while the sophomore set stalled at… Read more »

Sometimes your big break comes easier than you imagined it would. Just ask the members of Finger Eleven. After six years, the Canadian quintet is finally getting its just desserts with “One Thing,” the second single from the band’s self-titled third album. While predecessor “Good Times,” a quick-tempo confrontational rocker, didn’t make much of an impact, “One Thing” is a gentle acoustic ballad that arrived with surprisingly little effort. “It came out pretty easily,” singer Scott Anderson said. “It’s the result of [guitarist] James [Black] and I going to a cottage with an acoustic guitar to try to finish up… Read more »

Lead guitarist Johnny Quaid and keyboardist Danny Cash have quit My Morning Jacket after four years in the band. Both departures were amicable and both Quaid and Cash cited a desire to step back from the rigorous work schedule that the Louisville, Kentucky, troupe took on in support of its third album and major-label debut, 2003’s It Still Moves. Quaid and Cash were on board for MMJ’s debut, 1999’s Tennessee Fire, and its other independent release, 2001’s At Dawn. With buzz from press and other musicians over their high-energy live shows and unique brand of reverb-drenched rock & roll, the… Read more »

Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who took the helm at Arista Records nearly four years ago and oversaw platinum successes from acts including OutKast, Pink and Avril Lavigne, has left the label, it was announced Tuesday. Reid became president and CEO of Arista in May 2000 after the company’s founder and CEO, Clive Davis, left because of parent company BMG’s mandatory retirement policy. Reid was not available to comment, according to an Arista spokeswoman. Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, chairman and CEO of BMG, called Reid “one of the music industry’s top record men.” “His passion for working with and developing some of the world’s… Read more »

Paul Simon has signed a worldwide agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) that covers his catalog and future work. The multi-year deal, which went into effect Jan. 1, calls for UMPG to administer his catalog and new songs worldwide except in North America, where the material will continue to be handled by Paul Simon Music. Additionally, UMPG will represent Simon’s work globally, including the U.S. and Canada, for synchronization opportunities in TV, film and advertising. Simon was previously with Warner/Chappell. The 300-song catalog includes many modern-day pop classics penned by Simon as part of Simon & Garfunkel and as… Read more »

Johnny Cash, “The Man in Black” who became a towering figure in American music with such hits as “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” and “A Boy Named Sue,” died Friday. He was 71. “Johnny died due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure,” Cash’s manager, Lou Robin, said in a statement issued by Baptist Hospital in Nashville. He said Cash died at the hospital at 1 a.m. EDT. “I hope that friends and fans of Johnny will pray for the Cash family to find comfort during this very difficult time,” Robin said. Cash had been released… Read more »

In No Doubt’s 1995 hit single “Just A Girl,” lead singer Gwen Stefani sarcastically sang “the moment that I step outside, so many reasons for me to run and hide.” Eight years later, the blonde singer has decided to step out from hiding with the impending release of her first solo album. And if those working with her on the project are any indication, expect the forthcoming set to have a very hip-hop feel. Interscope Records has brought in Missy Elliott and Outkast to help guide Stefani’s debut effort. Elliott warned MTV, “It’s not just another record. It’s going to… Read more »

Kicking off in Scranton, PA on October 17th, Island Records recording artists, Thrice and Thursday join forces for a full scale U.S. tour. This pairing of incredible bands will give fans the opportunity to experience the unbridled energy and emotionally charged sounds of both artists. Thursday and Thrice are representative of a growing new musical scene. As the New York Times Magazine recently wrote, “What do you get when you mix crashing guitars, wrenchingly confessional lyrics and vocals that can peel paint? The new poetics of suburban living.” This two month tour will be sponsored by MTV2 and Alternative Press.… Read more »