Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Joni Mitchell says ‘Travelogue’ is her farewell recording
Joni Mitchell’s forthcoming two-disc album “Travelogue,” due in stores on Nov. 19, will be her last, the Canadian singer-songwriter told W magazine.
Joni Mitchell’s forthcoming two-disc album “Travelogue,” due in stores on Nov. 19, will be her last, the Canadian singer-songwriter told W magazine.
“I’m quitting after this because the business has made itself so repugnant to me,” Mitchell said in a story published in the magazine’s December issue.
Mitchell, 59, had telegraphed her intentions in other recent interviews. “[The music business is] calculated for sales, it’s sonically calculated, it’s rudely calculated, she told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “I’m ashamed to be a part of the music business. You know, I just think it’s a cesspool.”
“Travelogue" features orchestrated renditions of 22 of Mitchell’s previously released songs. A 70-member London-based orchestra and a 20-voice choir back her on the album.
Guests musicians include drummer Brian Blades, keyboardist Herbie Hancock, saxman Wayne Shorter, keyboardist Billy Preston, and bassists Larry Klein and Chuck Berghofer, among others.
Material on the album dates back as far as 1970. Among the tracks are “The Circle Game,” “Woodstock,” “The Dawntreader,” “For the Roses,” “Judgment of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)” and “Trouble Child.”
Album Chart: ‘8 Mile’ retains top slot
New albums from Justin Timberlake, U2, Jaheim and the Dave Matthews Band will all debut in the Top 10 on the forthcoming Billboard 200 chart, but none will topple Eminem’s “8 Mile” soundtrack.
New albums from Justin Timberlake, U2, Jaheim and the Dave Matthews Band will all debut in the Top 10 on the forthcoming Billboard 200 chart, but none will topple Eminem’s “8 Mile” soundtrack.
During its second week out, “8 Mile"--which features four new tracks from Eminem--sold about 508,000 copies, bringing its total to about 1.2 million, according to industry sources. The soundtrack’s namesake film, which opened in theaters last week, was the weekend’s top grosser.
Coming up about 70,000 copies short of “8 Mile” is “Justified,” ‘NSync member Justin Timberlake’s solo debut, which enters the chart at No. 2. Debuting at a distant third, with about 185,000 copies sold, is U2’s “Best of 1990-2000.”
Christina Aguilera’s “Stripped” slips two spots to No. 4 after debuting at No. 2 last week. The album moved about 168,000 copies during its second week out, a decrease of about 50 percent from its debut week.
Santana’s “Shaman” drops a notch to No. 5 while Faith Hill’s “Cry” stays put at No. 6.
Eminem makes his second appearance in the Top 10 with “The Eminem Show,” up one spot to No. 7. The album, which got a boost thanks to the theatrical release of “8 Mile,” sold about 115,000 copies, roughly 15,000 more than the previous week.
Debuting in the No. 8 slot is Jaheim’s “Still Ghetto,” which, with first-week sales of about 111,000 copies, sold less than 1,000 copies more than the No. 9 debut, the Dave Matthews Band’s “Live at Folsom Field.”
Closing out the Top 10 is Nirvana’s new best-of collection, featuring the previously unreleased track “You Know You’re Right.” The album slips seven places after debuting at No. 3 last week.
For the first time in months, Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go” drops out of the Top 10, stopping just shy at No. 11. Also making a noteworthy descent is Backstreet Boy Nick Carter’s solo debut, “Now or Never,” which plummets to No. 63 after debuting at No. 17 last week.
Notable debuts outside of the Top 10 include Andrea Bocelli’s “Sentimento” at No. 12, Insane Clown Posse’s “The Wraith: Shangri-La” at No. 15, David Gray’s “New Day at Midnight” at No. 17, Def Jam Records’ “Irv Gotti Presents: The Remixes” at No. 24, the Wallflowers “Red Letter Days” at No. 32, Alison Krauss’ new live set at No. 36, Deborah Cox’s “The Morning After” at No. 38, Tony Bennett and k.d. lang’s “Wonderful World” at No. 41, Boston’s “Corporate America” at No. 42, Eric Clapton’s “One More Car, One More Rider” at No. 43, Ms. Jade’s “Girl Interrupted” at No. 51 and Alan Jackson’s “Let It Be Christmas” at No. 52.
Monday, November 11, 2002
Street Date Nov. 12: Pearl Jam, TLC
Also: Elton John, 3 Doors Down, Phil Collins, ‘WWE: The Anthology’
Also: Elton John, 3 Doors Down, Phil Collins, ‘WWE: The Anthology’
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Pearl Jam, “Riot Act” (Epic)
Pearl Jam’s seventh studio release, and its first since 2000’s “Binaural,” is led by the single “I Am Mine.” The band produced the LP with Adam Kasper, who engineered R.E.M.’s “New Adventures in Hi-Fi.” Frequent Pearl Jam collaborator Brendan O’Brien mixed the finished set. Several samples from the album are streaming at Sony Music’s Pearl Jam website.
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TLC, “3D” (Arista)
This disc was only half-finished when group member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in a car crash in April. Surviving members Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins--working with producers Rodney Jerkins, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Babyface, Organized Noize and others--completed the album. Producers sifted through Lopes’ recorded archives to find many of the raps that appear on “3D.”
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Elton John, “Greatest Hits 1970-2002” (Universal)
This two-disc set--which clocks in at more than two-and-a-half hours--is being billed as John’s only complete, career-spanning hits collection. It includes 34 digitally remastered tracks, including all 22 of John’s original Top 10 pop hits. John is planning a “Greatest Hits” tour for 2003.
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3 Doors Down, “Away from the Sun” (Universal)
Paving the way for 3 Doors Down’s sophomore release is the hit single “When I’m Gone,” which is streaming at the group’s official website. The new album, which Rick Parasher (Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam) produced, is the follow-up to the band’s sextuple-platinum debut, “The Better Life,” which spawned the No. 1 hit “Kryptonite.” The group has already hit the road to support the release..
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Phil Collins, “Testify” (Atlantic)
Collins returns with his first solo album of new material since 1996’s “Dance Into the Light.” “Testify” features Collins’ latest hit, “Can’t Stop Loving You.” The veteran artist is scheduled to perform at New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza during Friday’s (11/15) edition of NBC-TV’s “Today Show,” according to Atlantic.
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Various artists, “WWE: Anthology” (Koch)
The WWE’s latest foray into music is a three-disc set that features a total of 86 tracks and clocks in at over three hours. The collection comprises three decades-worth of “WWE Superstar Entrance and Event themes,” 38 of which have never been released before, according to a press release. A complete list of tracks can be found at the album’s official website.
Clemons returns to stage, Springsteen tour resumes
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, after postponing three dates because sax player Clarence Clemons suffered a detached retina, will return to action on Tuesday night (11/12) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, after postponing three dates because sax player Clarence Clemons suffered a detached retina, will return to action on Tuesday night (11/12) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Clemons underwent successful surgery following last Monday’s (11/4) show in Houston. Clemons has since been released from the hospital, and is expected to complete the remainder of the tour.
Shows in Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; and Indianapolis have been rescheduled. The new dates are: Columbus on Dec. 16, Indianapolis on Dec. 17 and Austin on March 2.
Tickets for the original dates will be honored for the rescheduled shows or can be returned for a refund at their point of purchase.
Sunday, November 10, 2002
Bon Jovi bounces through North America in 2003
New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi open the first leg of a U.S. tour behind their new album “Bounce” in February.
New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi open the first leg of a U.S. tour behind their new album “Bounce” in February.
The tour is expected to focus on material from the new album, as well as material spanning the band’s entire career, according to Island Records.
Driven by the hit single “Everyday,” “Bounce” entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 2 in October, the highest chart debut in Bon Jovi’s history.
Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform live from Miami on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America on Nov. 15.
Thursday, November 07, 2002
The Police, AC/DC among 2003 Rock Hall inductees
The Police, AC/DC, the Clash, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and the Righteous Brothers will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.
The Police, AC/DC, the Clash, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and the Righteous Brothers will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.
While four of the five 2003 inductees are making it in during their first year of eligibility, the Rock Hall is inducting legendary Australian act AC/DC after passing over the group two previous times.
Artists become eligible for induction into the Rock Hall’s ranks 25 years after the release of their first record. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s nominating committee, which is “composed of rock and roll historians,” selects eligible nominees, and ballots are then sent to “an international voting body of about 1,000 rock experts,” according to the Rock Hall’s official website.
Black Sabbath, widely recognized as one of heavy-metal’s most influential acts, has been overlooked for the eighth year since becoming eligible. Other eligible acts left in the cold include Van Halen, the Sex Pistols and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Earlier this year, the Rock Hall inducted the Ramones, Talking Heads, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney and Chet Atkins.
The 2003 induction ceremony will take place on March 10 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, and VH1 will air an edited version of the event later that same month, according to organizers.
Promoters settle with union, Rolling Stones shows to go on
The Rolling Stones’ weekend appearances at San Francisco’s Pacific Bell Park are expected to go on as planned after promoters settled a dispute with local Teamsters.
The Rolling Stones’ weekend appearances at San Francisco’s Pacific Bell Park are expected to go on as planned after promoters settled a dispute with local Teamsters.
The Teamsters union picketed the stadium this week because concert-promoter Bill Graham Presents (part of Clear Channel Communications) wasn’t using union workers to load and unload trucks, or unionized stagehands to set up the stage and lights.
Members of the separate stagehands’ union refused to cross the Teamsters’ picket line.
On Wednesday, the promoter and union reportedly came to an agreement: Teamsters will help to load the shows back onto trucks on Sunday (11/10), after the Stones’ Friday (11/8) and Saturday (11/9) performances.
Beck, “Sea Change” (DGC)
Beck is your good buddy. He’s on the barstool next to yours and he’s consumed more than a few drinks. He’s whining about his love life. He’s whining a lot.
Beck is your good buddy. He’s on the barstool next to yours and he’s consumed more than a few drinks. He’s whining about his love life. He’s whining a lot.
“These days I barely get by,” he says. “I don’t even try.”
Since Beck’s your buddy--he’s quirky, you’ve got a past with him, he usually sees things from a skewed perspective--you give him the benefit of the doubt. Though it takes effort, you don’t immediately tune him out.
“It’s only lies that I’m living,” he continues. “It’s only tears that I’m crying.”
And it’s clear. Your buddy Beck is a heartbroken puppy, and not a very interesting one at that. And he’s not going to quit talking anytime soon.
Finally, almost an hour after it began, the droning comes to an end. You’ve already forgotten just about everything your buddy Beck has said.
You vow to avoid him for at least six months. Hopefully his heart will mend by then.
Wednesday, November 06, 2002
Run-DMC retires, assists family of slain DJ
The surviving Run-DMC duo of Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniel announced that the act has officially retired from recording and touring.
The surviving Run-DMC duo of Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniel announced that the act has officially retired from recording and touring.
At a press conference on Wednesday (11/06), Simmons said: “As a tribute to the positive legacy of Jam Master Jay, we started together and we want the Run-DMC legacy to always reflect the three of us together.”
Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell, the third member of the famed Run-DMC trio, was shot and killed on Oct. 30 at his recording studio Queens, New York.
Simmons and McDaniel, along with Simmons’ brother Russell Simmons (co-founder of Def Jam Records), rap-music luminaries such as Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Busta Rhymes, Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, Salt-n-Pepa’s Spinderella, the Beastie Boys’ King Ad-Rock, and a number of other industry representatives and non-profit groups, announced on Wednesday that they had formed a coalition to help support Mizell’s widow and three children.
Specifically, the coalition plans to raise funds to purchase the Mizell family’s home, provide financial assistance for Mizell’s children to attend college and “develop an incentive for members of the community to come forward with information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible” for Mizell’s death, according to a press release.
Police continue to search for the masked gunman who shot Mizell. Progress in the investigation has reportedly been hampered by a lack of input from residents of Mizell’s community. Authorities have asked anyone with information regarding Mizell’s murder to call 800-577-TIPS.
Donations to the Mizell children’s trust fund can be sent to: The Mizell Children’s Fund, c/o Terri Corley-Mizell, PO Box 3497, New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040.
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
Album Chart: Eminem doubles up with No. 1 soundtrack
With his May release “The Eminem Show” still riding in the top 10, Eminem’s “8 Mile” soundtrack takes over the top slot on the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart.
With his May release “The Eminem Show” still riding in the top 10, Eminem’s “8 Mile” soundtrack takes over the top slot on the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart.
Propelled by the hit “Lose Yourself"--one of four new Eminem tracks featured on the album--the “8 Mile” soundtrack racked up first-week sales of about 702,000 copies, according to industry sources. That places it in the top slot, while “The Eminem Show,” which has been in the Top 10 since its release in May, drops one spot to No. 8.
Despite first-week sales of about 370,000 copies less than “8 Mile,” Christina Aguilera’s “Stripped"--featuring the singer’s latest hit, “Dirrty"--makes its debut in the No. 2 slot.
Nirvana fans who had to wait for surviving members Dave Grohl and Chris Novaselic to finish with Courtney Love their legal battle for control of the previously unreleased track “You Know You’re Right"--the last Nirvana track Love’s late-husband Kurt Cobain recorded before his 1994 suicide--give the group’s self-titled best-of collection a No. 3 debut, thanks to sales of about 234,000 copies.
The three newcomers atop the chart push Santana’s “Shaman,” which debuted at No. 1 last week, down to No. 4, where it is followed by the No. 5 debut of country trio Rascal Flatts’ sophomore release, “Melt.” That album sold just under 170,000 copies.
Fellow country singer Faith Hill follows at No. 6 with her latest, “Cry,” which is down four spots from last week.
Singer-songwriter Tori Amos scores a No. 7 debut with “Scarlet Walk,” which sold about 107,000 copies during its first week out.
Closing out the Top 10 behind “The Eminem Show” are Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go,” down one spot to No. 9; and the Dixie Chicks’ “Home,” down two places to No. 10.
Making room for the five Top 10 debuts are Elvis Presley’s “Elvis: 30 #1 Hits,” which drops six places to No. 11; Nelly’s “Nellyville,” down three places to No. 13; the Rolling Stones’ “Forty Licks,” down five spots to No. 14; Rod Stewart’s “It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook,” down a dozen places to No. 16; and Foo Fighters’ “One By One,” down 16 rungs to No. 19.
Other notable debuts include Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “Thug World Order” at No. 12, Lil Jon & Eastside Boyz’s “Kings of Crunk” at No. 15, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter’s “Now or Never” at No. 17, Tank’s “One Man” at No. 20, “Totally Hits 2002” at No. 21, “Totally Hits Country” at No. 23, Shaggy’s “Lucky Day” at No. 24, Stevie Wonder’s “Definitive Collection” best-of set at No. 35, Too Short’s “What’s My Favorite Word” at No. 38, and Sigur Ros’ “( )” at No. 51.
Run DMC’s “Greatest Hits,” which first surfaced in early September, climbs onto the chart at No. 117; sales of the album surged in the wake of group member Jam Master Jay’s death on Oct. 30.