Sunday, July 07, 2002
In Brief: Michael Jackson lashes out at record industry
Stars line up for Timothy White tribute concert. Smoke clears Tony Bennett concert in London. Beck concert dates emerge.
Stars line up for Timothy White tribute concert. Smoke clears Tony Bennett concert in London. Beck concert dates emerge.
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Michael Jackson, during a Saturday (7/6) appearance in Harlem with New York civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, used strong words in criticizing the music industry’s treatment of black artists, and counted himself among the mistreated. “The record companies really do conspire against the artists,” he said, according to the New York Post. “Especially the black artists.” Jackson reportedly also said Sony Music Entertainment chief Tommy Mottola was a racist and “devilish,” and claimed that Mottola used the “n-word” when referring to an unidentified black Sony artist.
A Sony spokesman reportedly called Jackson’s comments “ludicrous, spiteful and hurtful. ...It seems particularly bizarre that he has chosen to launch an unwarranted and ugly attack on an executive who has championed his career, and the careers of so many other superstars, for many years,” he said.
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James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp and Don Henley are among the artists who will perform a tribute concert in memory of Timothy White, the late editor of Billboard magazine, Billboard.com reports. The date and place of the concert, which will benefit White’s family and various charities, have not been finalized. White, 50, died of an apparent heart attack on June 27.
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Tony Bennett’s Thursday (7/4) concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall was cut short when smoke filled the venue as he was singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” according to British press reports. “I knew I was hot, but not that hot,” Bennett joked as the crowd began to evacuate. There were no injuries, and the smoke proved to be the result of a burned-out motor.
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Two Beck concerts have been scheduled for August: Aug. 17 at the Zellerbach Theater in Philadelphia and Aug. 21 at the Granada Theater in Dallas. A http://www.soundspike.com/story/282>new Beck album is due in stores on Sept. 24.
Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Sharon Osbourne’s cancer surgery delays Ozzfest opener
Ozzfest 2002, which was scheduled to kick off on Saturday (7/6), will now start on July 10 so that Osbourne-family matriarch Sharon Osbourne can undergo surgery on Wednesday (7/3) for a “treatable form of cancer.”
Ozzfest 2002, which was scheduled to kick off on Saturday (7/6), will now start on July 10 so that Osbourne-family matriarch Sharon Osbourne can undergo surgery on Wednesday (7/3) for a “treatable form of cancer.”
According to a press release, Sharon--who is husband Ozzy Osbourne’s manager--is expected to make a full recovery. No additional information about the nature of her illness was provided.
Ozzfest’s Saturday (7/6) stop in Bristow, Va., and Sunday (7/7) stop in Pittsburgh, Pa., have both been postponed to accommodate the surgery. Details for the rescheduled dates are expected shortly, according to Osbourne’s publicist.
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, along with children Jack and Kelly, have been the center of a media maelstrom since the MTV real-life sitcom “The Osbournes,” which documents the family’s day-to-day life, became a runaway success.
In addition to tour namesake and headliner Ozzy Osbourne, this year’s annual Ozzfest outing features main-stage acts System of a Down, Rob Zombie, P.O.D., Drowning Pool and Adema. Additional details about the tour are available at Ozzfest’s official website.
Jazz great Ray Brown dies on tour at 75
Legendary jazz bassist Ray Brown, considered one of the founders of bebop, died in his sleep on Tuesday (7/2), shortly before he was to play the final night of a two-night engagement in Indianapolis. He was 75.
Legendary jazz bassist Ray Brown, considered one of the founders of bebop, died in his sleep on Tuesday (7/2), shortly before he was to play the final night of a two-night engagement in Indianapolis. He was 75.
Brown reportedly had played a round of golf earlier in the day and returned to his hotel for a nap. His body was found in his room after a bandmate, who became concerned after Brown failed to show up for the show, went to the hotel to check on him.
According to the Indianapolis Star, the announcement of Brown’s death “brought gasps and groans from the packed house” of fans who had come to the Jazz Kitchen to see the show.
Brown, a native of Pittsburgh, moved to New York in the ‘40s and was quickly asked to join Dizzy Gillespie’s band, which also featured Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. Gillespie, in his memoir “To Be Or Not to Bop,” wrote that Brown “played the strongest, most fluid and imaginative bass lines in modern jazz at the time, with the exception of Oscar Pettiford.”
In 1947, Brown married vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, and formed a trio so that he could tour with her. He continued as Fitzgerald’s musical director after their divorce in the early ‘50s.
Brown toured with producer Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic for 18 years. There, he met pianist Oscar Peterson, who made Brown a member of the Oscar Peterson Trio until it disbanded in 1966.
Among the artists Brown performed with over the course of his career were Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Eckstine and Peggy Lee.
In recent years, Brown recorded for the Telarc label. He also joined forces with Oscar Peterson and Milt Jackson for 1999’s “The Very Tall Band,” a collaboration recorded live at New York City’s Blue Note in November 1998.
Brown’s latest release, “Some of My Best Friends Are ... Guitarists,” with John Pizzarelli, Herb Ellis, Russell Malone, Ulf Wakenius, Bruce Forman and Kenny Burrell was released last month.
Brown lived in Los Angeles, and is survived by his wife, Cecilia, and his adopted son, Ray Brown, Jr.
Album Chart: Nelly ends Eminem’s run at No. 1
"The Eminem Show” has reigned atop the Billboard 200 album chart since its May release, but “Nellyville,” the sophomore effort from St. Louis rapper Nelly, claims that spot on the forthcoming chart thanks to sales of more than 700,000 copies.
"The Eminem Show” has reigned atop the Billboard 200 album chart since its May release, but “Nellyville,” the sophomore effort from St. Louis rapper Nelly, claims that spot on the forthcoming chart thanks to sales of more than 700,000 copies.
Propelled by the No. 1 hit “Hot in Herre,” Nelly’s latest sold about 714,000 copies in its debut week, according to industry sources. The album is the follow-up to the rapper’s 2000 debut, “Country Grammar, which has sold more than 8 million copies to date.
Nelly’s chart-topping debut pushes “The Eminem Show” to No. 2 after a five-week run in the top slot. The album sold another 308,000 copies during its latest week out, bringing its total to about 3.6 million copies to date.
Adding to the rap-ruled album chart is the No. 3 debut of “God’s Favorite,” the latest from N.O.R.E., a.k.a. Noreaga of rap duo Capone & Noreaga; and the No. 5 debut of “Truthfully Speaking,” the first album from rapper Truth Hurts.
Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go,” after jumping from No. 10 to No. 5 last week, is up another notch to No. 4. The album features Lavigne’s current hit, “Complicated.”
Ashanti’s self-titled debut also picks up a spot to move from No. 7 to No. 6.
The rap-heavy Top 10 sees the latest from rockers Korn and Papa Roach get shoved down the ladder, with Korn’s “Untouchables” down from No. 3 to No. 7 and Papa Roach’s “Lovehatetragedy” down from last week’s No. 2 debut to No. 8.
Closing out the Top 10 is the hits compilation “Totally Hits 2002” at No. 9 and Pink’s “Missundaztood” at No. 10, up from No. 15.
Veteran rapper and movie star Will Smith gets left out of the rap-album party at the top of the charts; “Born to Reign,” Smith’s third solo effort, makes its debut at No. 13.
Smith’s latest still fares better than last week’s debuts from Our Lady Peace and Paulina Rubio; Our Lady Peace’s “Gravity” drops from No. 9 to No. 31, while Rubio’s “Border Girl” freefalls from No. 11 to No. 38.
Other debuts happening outside of the Top 10 include: Shedaisy’s “Knock on the Sky” at No. 23; Soulfly’s “3” at No. 46; Nonpoint’s “Development” at No. 52; “This Is Ultimate Dance” compilation at No. 61; “Punk-O-Rama Vol. 7” at No. 67; Ozzy Osbourne’s “Live at Budokan” at No. 70: Steve Harvey’s “Sign of Things to Come” at No. 73; Los Temerarios’ “Una Lagrima No Basta” at No. 79; Cormega’s “True Meaning” at No. 95; Reel Big Fish’s “Cheer Up! “ at No. 115; Sonic Youth’s “Murray Street” at No. 126; Joe Satriani’s “Strange Beautiful Music” at No. 140; and Halford’s “Crucible” at No. 144.
In Brief: TLC’s T-Boz and Chilli back in the studio
Private funeral services planned for John Entwistle. Major labels reportedly planning campaign against file-swappers. Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform on Ellis Island. Radio station promotes Asbury Park Springsteen show.
Private funeral services planned for John Entwistle. Major labels reportedly planning campaign against file-swappers. Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform on Ellis Island. Radio station promotes Asbury Park Springsteen show.
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Surviving TLC members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas have resumed work on TLC’s fourth studio album, the Associated Press reports. TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in an automobile accident two months ago. Arista Records reportedly hopes to release the album, which is being produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, this fall.
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Funeral services for the Who‘s John Entwistle will be held next week, and Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend will attend, according Universal Music Enterprises. A memorial service will be held later in the year. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Teenage Cancer Trust and the British Heart Foundation.
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The Wall Street Journal reports that “major music companies are preparing to mount a broad new attack on unauthorized online song-swapping” that “would include suits against individuals who are offering the largest troves of songs on peer-to-peer services.” The labels reportedly have also hired companies “to distribute ‘decoy’ files labeled with the names of movies or songs. The idea is to frustrate illicit downloaders with dummy files that don’t work.”
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With the dual purpose of promoting the release of their new album, “By the Way,” and helping with the revitalization of lower Manhattan, Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform a Tuesday (7/9) concert on Ellis Island in New York Harbor. Tickets are being distributed via a contest on New York-area radio station WXRK-FM (K-Rock).
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Though no Bruce Springsteen concerts have been announced besides an upcoming appearance on the “Today” show, Los Angeles-area radio station Star 98.7 is promoting a contest in which it is awarding three nights hotel accommodations, roundtrip airfare for 2 from Los Angeles and a pair of tickets to a “private” July 26 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performance in Asbury Park, N.J. Details are available at the Star 98.7 website.
Monday, July 01, 2002
Latest volume of “Now” hits series due on July 23
The 10th installment in the immensely successful “Now That’s What I Call Music!” series--this one featuring hits from Jennifer Lopez, Lenny Kravitz, Nickelback, Britney Spears and others--lands in stores on July 23.
The 10th installment in the immensely successful “Now That’s What I Call Music!” series--this one featuring hits from Jennifer Lopez, Lenny Kravitz, Nickelback, Britney Spears and others--lands in stores on July 23.
The compilation includes 20 previously released hits in all, and is a mix of pop, R&B, Latin and rock tracks.
According to Sony Music Entertainment, the “Now” series has generated sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide, including more than 30 million copies in the United States.
The “Now” brand debuted in the U.S. in 1998, but by that time the series was already well established internationally. Fifty-two volumes of “Now” have been released overseas over the last 19 years.
In the U.S., every volume of the “Now” series has reached the Billboard Top 10. Four albums in the series--Vols. 4, 6, 7 and 9--debuted at No. 1 on the chart.
The full tracklisting for “Now That’s What I Call Music, Vol. 10!” follows:
Britney Spears - “Overprotected (The Darkchild Remix)”
Kylie Minogue - “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”
Enrique Iglesias - “Escape”
Marc Anthony - “I’ve Got You”
‘NSync - “Girlfriend (The Neptunes Remix featuring Nelly")
J-Lo/Nas - “I’m Gonna Be Alright (Track Masters Remix)”
Paulina Rubio - “Don’t Say Goodbye”
Baha Men - “Move It Like This”
Aaliyah - “More Than a Woman”
B2K - “Uh Huh”
Ja Rule/Ashanti - “Always on Time”
Jade Anderson - “Sugar High”
Musiq - “Halfcrazy”
Shakira - “Underneath Your Clothes”
Vanessa Carlton - “A Thousand Miles”
Celine Dion - “A New Day Has Come”
Moby - “We Are All Made of Stars”
Blink-182 - “First Date”
Lenny Kravitz - “Stillness of the Heart”
Nickelback - “How You Remind Me”
Chuck Prophet, “No Other Love” (New West)
Maybe it’s time for the genre-blending genre to get its own name. Melange, we’ll call it, with Beck as the current standard-bearer.
Maybe it’s time for the genre-blending genre to get its own name. Melange, we’ll call it, with Beck as the current standard-bearer.
“No Other Love” is Melange. Some funky white soul, some folk-pop. Prophet uses strings, too--some synth, some actual. Some of it will remind you of “The Sopranos”’ theme song by A3. You can hear Dylan’s spirit in Prophet’s lyrics and phrasing. His deep voice is almost as flattened as Billy Bob Thornton’s, which might be a deal-breaker for some listeners, but Prophet has some neat vocal tricks--he’ll suddenly over-enunciate an “r"-syllable, and, if you were drifting, you’re pulled back.
Unlike Prophet’s 2000 album, “The Hurting Business,” there’s no DJ or turntabling on this one, and it’s not heavy on the Farfisa sounds--"No Other Love” is a lot smoother. And unlike most Melange, “No Other Love” makes you want to get laid.
New Pearl Jam studio album tentatively set for November
Pearl Jam--a band rarely known to stick to a schedule--has tentative plans to release a new studio album in November of 2002, according to Sony’s Pearl Jam Rumor Pit website.
Pearl Jam--a band rarely known to stick to a schedule--has tentative plans to release a new studio album in November of 2002, according to Sony’s Pearl Jam Rumor Pit website.
According to the latest update on the band-sanctioned, site, the band produced the new album with Adam Kasper, and frequent Pearl Jam collaborator Brendan O’Brien mixed the finished set.
“Next up will be creating the artwork, deciding the album name and then the tracklisting,” the posting said.
The album will be Pearl Jam’s seventh studio release, and its first since 2000’s “Binaural.”
The band now expects to issue an album of rarities--a mix of studio and live tracks that may span two CDs--sometime in 2003. Earlier this year, the band had planned to issue the rarities album in late 2002, and to follow with the studio set in 2003.
The Rumor Pit also reports that the band is “planning to do a few shows before year’s end but there are no details yet.”
In other Pearl Jam-related news, the third album from Brad (the side project of Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard), is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Aug. 13. The band is expected to open a tour in October.
In Brief: Sony/ATV purchases Acuff-Rose publishing catalog
Marc Anthony, wife split. New Ted Nugent album on the way. Billy Bob Thornton guests with the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. Rosemary Clooney dead at 74.
Marc Anthony, wife split. New Ted Nugent album on the way. Billy Bob Thornton guests with the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. Rosemary Clooney dead at 74.
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Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which is owned by a partnership that includes Sony Corp. of Japan and Michael Jackson, has announced plans to purchase the catalog of Acuff-Rose Music Publishing. Gaylord Entertainment reportedly will receive $157 million for rights to the Acuff-Rose catalog, which includes “Oh Pretty Woman,” “Tennessee Waltz” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”
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Singer Marc Anthony and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres have separated after two years of marriage.
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Ted Nugent releases a new album titled “Craveman” on Sept. 24.
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Billy Bob Thornton makes a guest appearance on “Distance Between,” the sophomore album from the Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash The album is due in stores on Aug. 27.
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Singer Rosemary Clooney died on June 29 at the age of 74. She had been hospitalized for a recurrence of lung cancer.