03.29.06 (MusicPortal.com) "Dumbing Up," the album that only received a partial UK release four years ago, has been remastered and repackaged with two new tracks, new graphics and a DVD of intimate WORLD PARTY action for a fresh new release on May 2nd. Five World Party albums in 20 years might not be a great record... but every one of them was a great record, and now the party is starting all over again. 4 years ago, Karl Wallinger's World Party fell apart. He had terminated his long deal with Chrysalis Records because of their handling of the Egyptology CD release (which included the hit 'She's The One'). Without his knowledge, most of his band and his former label manager produced a near identical version of his song to win Robbie Williams the Brits "Single Of The Year;" his manager and mentor, Steve Fargnoli, died of cancer; and then Wallinger had an aneurysm. It seemed like Karl Wallinger's 20-year-old "Ship Of Fools" was scuppered, taking with it one of Britain's finest musical treasures. Now, despite feeling like his head's been sawn in half, (which, incidentally, it has) Wallinger and World Party are back on the campaign trail. He's regained control of his voice, his legs, his warped sense of humor and his music catalog. He's launched Seaview Records and recentlyplayed South By Southwest in Austin, Texas. There may even be life for the bizarre comedy concept, Seaview TV. World Party? A social-democratic ideology? A good time for all? A better name than "The Karl Wallinger Band"? In the mid-eighties Wallinger walked out of cult heroes The Waterboys and launched World Party with a surprising hit album and U.S. hit single, 'Ship Of Fools.' "Private Revolution" charted in America, proving that 20th century philosophy could be set to good tunes and sell. It was never a prolific project, but through five educational and entertaining albums, World Party carried the torch for intelligent pop and outstanding live musicianship. Eclectic in every sense of the word, World Party took its leads from The Beatles, Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Stones, Junior Walker, Neil Young, Prince, and made the music their own. It was Wallinger's ability to turn his fanaticism for great '60s music into fresh material that persuaded Ensign Records' Nigel Grainge to sign him up and give him total creative freedom and his own studio. "I was looking for a place to record Private Revolution and ended up in this eight bedroom Georgian rectory in Woburn," he remembers. "The estate agent said an artist named Eddy was caretaking the place for the Woburn estate but that he might let me use it. I gave him a bit of rent and it was fantastic. I was 28 and making my first record, with my own band. There were these 12 white doves living in the roof, like the spirits of the nuns who lived there long ago. Their presence had a dualistic nature. On the one hand, there was the beauty of watching them fly together in circles over the house and neighbouring fields. But on the other hand, these doves just shit everywhere, blocking up the drains. Eddy and I were always running around trying to stop leaks." With the success of "Private Revolution," the World Party estates grew to include Seaview, an ironically named loft space in a Victorian warehouse with a panoramic view of London. Always the chief architect, Karl drew on the talents of engineers and producers such as Prince's "Paisley Park" engineer, Joe Blaney. "It was like having my own Abbey Road," he says animatedly. "It was always an apprenticeship, and I got these guys in so I could learn from them as well as benefit from their work." A yet more accomplished second album resulted. "Goodbye Jumbo" won the first ever Q "Album Of The Year" award in 1990, was nominated for a Grammy and had... [full story]
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03.28.06 (MusicPortal.com) Rounder Records has announced the May 23rd release of "All American Bluegrass Girl," the new album from RHONDA VINCENT - the fiery vocalist and multi-instrumentalist dubbed "the new queen of bluegrass" by the Wall Street Journal. Since her first Rounder release, 2000's Back Home Again, Vincent has met with increasing acclaim for her dynamic, infectious take on bluegrass. Her gift for balancing classic bluegrass sounds with subtle contemporary touches is featured throughout "All American Bluegrass Girl." Joining her on the album are the members of her stellar road band the Rage, a host of top-notch session musicians, and some of the music's most legendary figures - including Dolly Parton and Bobby Osborne. The album was co-produced by Vincent and her brother Darrin, and is the first album recorded at her own recording studio, Adventure Studios in Nashville. The twelve tracks that make up "All American Bluegrass Girl" cover a wide range of styles and textures, while maintaining a consistent sound. The spry title track -- an original, high-energy crowd-pleasing autobiography in song -- moves seamlessly into the quietly eloquent, bittersweet 'Forever Ain't That Long Anymore.' For every high-energy bluegrass track, there is something more personal, like the beguiling 'Prettiest Flower There.' Rhonda Vincent continues to find refreshing new dimensions to her music, as evidenced by the swinging, bluesy gospel of 'Jesus Built A Bridge To Heaven.' While Vincent continues to actively seek out talented new songwriters, one of the highlights of "All American Bluegrass Girl" is her own continuing emergence as a writer, with the title track, the poetic and moving 'God Bless The Soldier,' and the nimble instrumental, 'Ashes Of Mount Augustine.' In addition to receiving an unprecedented six consecutive Female Vocalist Of The Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (I.B.M.A.), being named I.B.M.A.'s 2001 Entertainer Of The Year, and being the co-author of the 2004 I.B.M.A. Song of the Year, Vincent was nominated for a 2005 Grammy¨ award for Best Bluegrass Album for Ragin' Live. With its modern take on timeless themes, All American Bluegrass Girl promises to be the next step in her tireless campaign to introduce listeners around the world to the universal appeal of bluegrass music. "Just recently," Vincent recalls, "I was reminded how powerful this music is, no matter how old or young you are. A little girl from Missouri came up to me, after hearing 'All American Bluegrass Girl' and asked, 'Could I sing your song?' I asked her why, and she just said 'Because I'm an All American Bluegrass Girl too!'"
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03.01.06 (MusicPortal.com) Columbia Records will release BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN's 21st album, "We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions," on April 25th. The album features Springsteen's personal interpretations of thirteen traditional songs, all of them associated with the legendary guiding light of modern American Folk music, Pete Seeger, for whom the album is named. Speaking of the origins of the new music, Springsteen says: "So much of my writing, particularly when I write acoustically, comes straight out of the folk tradition. Making this album was creatively liberating because I have a love of all those different roots sounds... they can conjure up a whole world with just a few notes and a few words." BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN recorded the album with a large ensemble. The musicians on "We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions" are Springsteen (guitar, harmonica, B3 organ and percussion), Sam Bardfeld (violin), Art Baron (tuba), Frank Bruno (guitar), Jeremy Chatzy (upright bass), Mark Clifford (banjo), Larry Eagle (drums and percussion), Charles Giordano (B3 organ, piano and accordion), Ed Manion (saxophone), Mark Pender (trumpet), Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg (trombone) and Soozie Tyrell (violin). Lisa Lowell, Patti Scialfa, Springsteen, Pender, Tyrell, and Rosenberg contribute backing vocals. "We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions" will be released in DualDisc format, with the full album on one side of the disc and DVD content on the other side. The 30-minute video side of the DualDisc is slated to contain extensive behind-the-scenes footage of the recording of the new album. In addition, the DualDisc package will contain two bonus tracks and a special booklet including some notes from BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. Springsteen is planning a short tour in the U.S. and Europe to accompany the release of the album. He will reportedly be appearing with most of the same musicians who appear on "We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions." Tour information will be announced separately at a later date. According to BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN's long-time manager, Jon Landau, "'We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions' has a lightness and ease to it, a sheer joyfulness, that makes it very special from top to bottom. Bruce has taken a core group of classic American songs and transformed them into a high-energy, modern and very personal statement." "We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions" Track Listing: 1. Old Dan Tucker • 2. Jessie James • 3. Mrs. McGrath • 4. Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep • 5. John Henry • 6. Erie Canal • 7. Jacob's Ladder • 8. My Oklahoma Home • 9. Eyes On The Prize • 10. Shenandoah • 11. Pay Me My Money Down • 12. We Shall Overcome • 13. Froggie Went A-Courtin' • 14. Buffalo Gals (Bonus Track) • 15. How Can I Keep From Singing (Bonus Track)
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[Folk News: February 2006]
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