Universal Music are about to unleash a staggering 19 CD collection which includes over 100 previously unreleased recordings including an unidentified track called Ethusel which dates back to her pre Fairport Convention days and has had experts scratching their heads over its origin.

There are so many gems captured on the collection which includes everything officially released by the singer on the first eleven discs, with eight further discs given over to the rarest of her material.

The set is lavishly packaged and features all new artwork. Each CD is housed in an individual gatefold digipak sleeve  and comes in a beautiful box packed full of memorabilia including;

• 72 page hardback book containing rare and unseen photos
• A reproduction of one of her notebooks containing handwritten lyrics of some of her best know compositions and many unrecorded songs
• Extensive biography and annotations to key new tracks found in the Island archive
• Reproduction of a rare A2 colour promo poster for Northstar Grassman and the Ravens
• Copy of the receipt for her first piano
• Copy of an original Island press kit containing press release and 4 press shots for Like An Old Fashioned Waltz
• A collection of bound postcards of never before seen photographs
• Interviews and tributes from artists such as Richard Thompson, Judy Collins, John Renbourn, Bob Harris, Robert Plant, Bill Drummond, Marc Almond, Lee Ranaldo, Rachel Unthank and Jon Boden

The full collection listing:

CD
1    Alex Campbell and His Friends 67 The False Bride
1        You Never Wanted Me
1        This Train
1   Sandy and Johnny 67 Milk and Honey
1        The Last Thing On My Mind
1        3.10 to Yuma
1        Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor
1        Pretty Polly
1        Been On The Road So Long
1    Bonus track My Ramblin’ Boy
1    It’s Sandy Denny 70 3.10 to Yuma
1        Pretty Polly
1        Milk and Honey
1        The Last Thing On My Mind
1        Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor

2    All Our Own Work Sandy Denny and The Strawbs On My Way
2        Who Knows Where The Time Goes
2        Tell Me What You See In Me
2        Stay Awhile With Me
2        All I Need Is You
2        Sail Away To The Sea
2        And You Need Me
2   Sandy Denny and The Strawbs (91 re-issue) Nothing Else Will Do
2        Who Knows Where The Time Goes
2        And You Need Me
2        Tell Me What You See In Me
2        Stay Awhile With Me
2        Two Weeks Last Summer
2    Swedish Fly Girls (film Soundtrack) Water Mother
2    Swedish Fly Girls (film Soundtrack) What Will I Do Tomorrow?
2    Swedish Fly Girls (film Soundtrack) Are The Judges Sane Fly Girls,
2   Swedish Fly Girls I Need You

3    What We Did on Our Holidays 69 Fotheringay
3        Mr Lacey
3        Book Song
3        The Lord Is In This Place
3        I’ll Keep It With Mine
3        Eastern Rain
3        Nottamun Town
3        She Moves Through The Fair
3        Meet On The Ledge
3   Unhalfbricking 69 Genesis Hall
3        Si Tu Dois Partir
3        Autopsy
3        A Sailors Life
3        Cajun Woman
3        Who Knows Where The Time Goes
3        Percy’s Song
3        Million Dollar Bash
3    Unreleased     Mr Lacey
3    Unreleased     Autopsy

4   Liege and Lief Come All Ye
4        Reynardine
4        Matty Groves
4        Farewell Farewell
4        The Deserter
4        Tam Lin
4        Crazy Man Michael
4    Unreleased    Come All Ye (take 1)
4    Unreleased    Matty Groves (take 1)

5    Fotheringay Nothing More
5        The Sea
5        Winter Winds
5        Peace In The End
5        The Way I Feel
5        Pond and the Stream
5        Banks of The Nile
5   Fotheringay 2 John The Gun
5        Eppy Moray
5        Wild Mountain Thyme
5        Late November
5        Gypsy Davey
5        Silver Threads and Golden Needles
5        Two Weeks Last Summer
5        Gypsy Davey (alternate mix)
5        Late November (alternate mix)
5        Two Weeks Last Summer (alternate mix)

6   The North Star Grassman and the Ravens 71 Late November
6        Blackwaterside
6        The Sea Captain
6        Down In The Flood
6        John The Gun
6        Next Time Around
6        The Optimist
6        Lets Jump The Broomstick
6        Wretched Wilbur
6        Northstar Grassman and the Ravens
6        Crazy Lady Blues
6        Late November (El Pea version)
6    Unreleased     Blackwaterside [Alternate take]
6        Next Time Around (Alternate take)
6   The Bunch: Rock On 72 That’ll Be The Day
6        Love’s Made A Fool of You
6        Willie and the Hand Jive
6        WhenWill I Be Loved?
6        Learning The Game
7   Sandy 72 It’ll Take A Long Time
7        Sweet Rosemary
7        For Nobody To Hear
7        Tomorrow Is A Long Time
7        Quiet Joys of Brotherhood
7        Listen, Listen
7        The Lady
7        Bushes and Briars
7        It Suits Me Well
7        The Music Weaver
7    unreleaesd    Ecoute, Ecoute
7    unreleased    For Nobody to Hear
7    unreleased    The Music Weaver
7        Here In Silence
7        Man of Iron
8   Like an Old Fashioned Waltz 74 Solo
8        Like An Old Fashioned Waltz
8        Whispering Grass
8        Friends
8        Carnival
8        Dark The Night
8        At The End Of The Day
8        Until The Real Thing Comes Along
8        No End
8    Unreleased    Solo
8    unreleased    Like An Old Fashioned Waltz
8    Unreleased     Friends [alternate version]
8    Unreleased     Dark the night [alternate take]
8        At The End of The Day (alternate take)
8    Unreleased    No End (alternate take)

9   Fairport Live Convention (A Moveable Feast) 74 Matty Groves
9        John The Gun
9        Something you got
9        Down In The Flood
9        That’ll Be The Day (live)
9    Rising for the Moon 75 Rising For The Moon
9        Restless
9        White Dress
9        Stranger to Himself
9        What is True?
9        Dawn
9        After Halloween
9        One More Chance
9    Unreleased     White Dress  [alternate version]
9    Unreleased    Dawn [alternate version]
9    Unreleased    One More Chance [alternate take]
9        Breakfast in Mayfair

10   Rendezvous 77 I Wish I Was A Fool For You
10        Gold Dust
10        Candle In The Wind
10        Take Me Away
10        One Way Donkey Ride
10        I’m A Dreamer
10        All Our Days
10        Silver Threads And Golden Needles
10        No More Sad Refrains
10        Full Moon
10    unreleased    Still Waters Run Deep
10    unreleased     I’m A Dreamer [alternate take]
10    unreleased    All Our Days (alternate version)
10    unreleased    No More Sad Refrains (alternate version)
10    unreleased    Full Moon (alternative version)

11   Gold Dust: Live at the Royalty 98 I Wish I Was A Fool For You
11        Stranger to Himself
11        I’m A Dreamer
11        Take Me Away
11        Nothing More
11        The Sea
11        The Lady
11        Gold Dust
11        Solo
11        John The Gun
11        It’ll Take A Long Time
11        Wretched Wilbur
11        Tomorrow Is A Long Time
11        The Northstar Grassman and the Ravens
11        One More Chance
11        No More Sad Refrains
11        Who Knows Where The Time Goes

The Early Home Demos
12    Unreleased    Blues Run The Game
12    Unreleased    Milk and Honey
12    Unreleased    Soho
12    Unreleased    It Ain’t Me Babe
12    Unreleased    East Virginia
12        Geordie
12    Unreleased    In Memory (The Tender Years)
12    Unreleased    I Love My True Love
12    Unreleased    Let No Man Steal Your Thyme
12    Unreleased    ‘Ethusel’ (unknown track)
12    Unreleased    Carnival
12    Unreleased    Setting of the sun
12        Boxful of Treasures
12        They Don’t Seem to Know You
12    Unreleased    Gerrard Street
12    Unreleased    Fotheringay
12        She Moves Through The Fair
12    Unreleased    The Time Has Come
12    Unreleased    Seven Virgins
12        A Little Bit Of Rain
12        Go Your Own Way My Love
12    Unreleased    Cradle Song
12    Unreleased    Blue Tattoo
12    Unreleased    The Quiet Land of Erin
12    Unreleased    Who Knows Where The Time Goes (1st demo 1967)

Solo & Fairport Convention
13    unreleased     Who Knows Where The Time Goes (home demo)
13    unreleased    Motherless Children (home demo)
13    unreleased     Milk and Honey (Live BBC, Cellarful of Folk 21/3/67)
13    BBC Session     Been On The Road So Long (Live BBC, My Kind of Folk 26/6/68)
13    BBC Session     Quiet Land of Erin(Live BBC, My Kind of Folk 26/6/68)
13        Autopsy (demo)
13        Now and Then (demo)
13    unreleased    Fotheringay (acoustic version)
13    unreleased    She Moved Through the fair (acoustic version)
13    unreleased    Mr Lacey (live BBC, Stuart Henry Show 02/12/68)
13        Throwaway Street Puzzle
13        Ballad of Easy Rider
13        Dear Landlord
13        A Sailors Life (alternate version)
13    Lieg & Lief re-issue    Sir Patrick Spens
13    Lieg & Lief re-issue    Quiet Joys of Brotherhood (take 1)
13        Quiet Joys of Brotherhood (take 4)
14    Fotheringay
14    Unreleased    The Sea [Studio demo]
14    Unreleased    Winter Winds [studio demo]
14    Unreleased    The Pond and the stream [studio demo]
14    Unreleased    The Way I Feel [alternate version]
14    Unreleased    Banks of the Nile [alternate take]
14    Unreleased    Winter Winds [alternate take]
14        Silver Threads and Golden Needles (outtake)
14    Unreleased    The Sea (live Holland Festival, Rotterdam 1970)
14        Two Weeks Last Summer (live Holland Festival, Rotterdam 1970)
14        Nothing More (live Holland Festival, Rotterdam 1970)
14        Banks of the Nile (live Holland Festival, Rotterdam 1970)
14        Memphis Tennessee (live Holland Festival, Rotterdam 1970)
14    Unreleased    Trouble (live Holland Festival, Rotterdam 1970)
14    Unreleased    Bruton Town (band rehearsal)

15    Northstar Grassman and the Ravens & Sandy
15    unreleased    The Sea Captain [demo]
15    unreleased    Next Time around [demo]
15    unreleased    The Optimist [demo]
15    unreleased    Wretched Wilbur [demo]
15    unreleased    Crazy Lady Blues [demo]
15    unreleased    Lord Bateman [demo]
15    unreleased    Walking The Floor Over You [duet with Richard Thompson]
15    unreleased    Losing Game
15    unreleased     Northstar Grassman and the Ravens (Live, BBC One in Ten)
15    unreleased     Crazy Lady Blues (Live, BBC One in Ten)
15    unreleased    Late November (Live, BBC One in Ten)
15        If You Saw Thru My Eyes (duet with Ian Matthews)
15    Tommy
As Performed by The London Symphony Orchestra 72    It’s A Boy
15    BBC Session    Northstar Grassman and the Ravens (Live, BBC Bob Harris Show 06/09/71)
15    Unreleased    12th of Never
15        Sweet Rosemary (demo)
15        The Lady (demo)
15        After Halloween (demo)
16    Sandy/Waltz
16    Unreleased    It’ll Take A Long Time [demo]
16        Sweet Rosemary ( demo)
16    Unreleased    For Nobody To Hear [demo]
16    Unreleased    Tomorrow is a long time [demo]
16    Unreleased    Quiet Joys of Brotherhood [demo]
16    Unreleased    Listen, Listen (demo)
16    Unreleased    The Lady (demo)
16    Unreleased    Bushes and Briars  [demo]
16    Unreleased    It Suits Me Well [demo]
16        The Music Weaver (demo)
16    unreleased    No End [alternate take]
16    Unreleased    Whispering Grass [demo]
16    unreleased    Until the real thing comes along [demo]
16        Walking The Floor Over You (alternate version)
unreleased     No End (alternate version)

Fairport Live at the LA Troubadour 1974
17    unreleased    Down in the flood (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased    Solo (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased    It’ll Take A Long Time (live at the LA Troubadour)
17        She Moved Through The Fair (live at the LA Troubadour)
17        Knockin’ on Heavens Door (live at the LA Troubadour)
17        Like An Old Fashioned Waltz (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased    John the Gun (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased    Crazy Lady Blues (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased     Who Knows Where The Time Goes (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased    Matty Groves (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased    That’ll be the Day (live at the LA Troubadour)
17    unreleased    What is True [demo]
17    unreleased
Sandy interviewed about Like An Old Fashioned Waltz. BBC radio, John Peel Sounds on Sunday 06/01/74
17    unreleased    Sandy interviewed in 1974 to promote Like An Old Fashioned Waltz and her return to Fairport Convention. BBC Manchester Piccadilly

18  Rendezvous
18    Unreleased    Blackwaterside (live Marc Time TV show 1975)
18    Unreleased    No More Sad Refrains (live Marc Time TV show 1975)
18    Unreleased    By The Time It Gets Dark [demo]
18    Unreleased    One Way Donkey Ride [alternate version]
18        Losing Game (with Jess Roden)
18    unreleased    Easy To Slip
18        By The Time It Gets Dark (demo)
18    unreleased    No More Sad Refrains (demo)
18    unreleased    I’m A Dreamer (demo)
18    unreleased    All Our Days (Choral version)
18        By The Time It Gets Dark (demo)
18    unreleased    Still Waters Run Deep (alternate version)
18    unreleased    Full Moon [alternate version]
18    unreleased    Candle In The Wind (alternate version)
18    unreleased    Moments
18    unreleased     I Wish I Was A Fool For You [Original Gold Dust lp version]
18    unreleased     Gold Dust [Original Gold Dust lp version]
18    unreleased     Still Waters Run Deep [alternate version]
18    unreleased    Moments [alternate version]

Home demos 74-77
19        King And Queen of England (demo)
19    unreleased    Rising For The Moon (demo)
19        One More Chance (demo)
19    Unreleased    King And Queen of England (demo)
19    Unreleased    After Halloween (demo)
19        What Is True (demo)
19        Stranger To Himself (demo)
19        Take Away The Load (demo)
19        By The Time It Gets Dark (demo)
19        I’m A Dreamer (demo)
19        Full Moon (demo)
19        Take Me Away (demo)
19        All Our Days (demo)
19        No More Sad Refrains (demo)
19        Still Waters Run Deep (demo)
19        One Way Donkey Ride (demo)
19    Unreleased    I’m A Dreamer (demo)
19    Unreleased    Full Moon (demo, incomplete)
19    Unreleased    Makes Me Think Of You (demo)

A second edition, limited to 100 sets, is available only from the Island 50 web store. It comes with a framed print of the artwork, signed by the artist, Phil Smee, and individually addressed to each purchaser.

The collection will be released on November 1st 2010 through Universal Music.

caro emerald

An impromptu performance on a local TV station in her homeland of Holland led to an overnight smash for singer Caro Emerald, the track Back It Up is set to do the same in the UK when it is released on September 20th.

In Holland there was an overwhelming clamour to hear more from the new and exciting singer, but the fact was Back It Up was the only song that Caro Emerald had in the bank.

And so with her love of the music from the 40’s and 50’s Emerald and her co producers David Schreurs and Jan van Wieringen set about writing an album’s worth of new material in the same vein as the single.

The result of their efforts can be heard on the album Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor, twelve brand new tracks that will be released on October 4th through Dramatico records.

Emerald’s smouldering vocals update the classic Americano sound with a contemporary sheen and modern day suggestive lyrics, incorporating a wealth of sounds and influences.

The album falls mainly into the category of flirtatious swing  as featured on the single Back It Up, but also updates the classic movie style music of the fifties on tracks like A Night Like This and The Other Woman.

Tracks like Riviera Life, Stuck and I Know That He’s Mine, while retaining the essence of the swing theme, lean more towards contemporary pop and are a welcome break on the album preventing it from being the one dimensional affair that it does at times threaten to be.

Caro Emerald – Back It Up

B.o.B. - photo:Chris Phelps

With his debut single Nothin’ On You sitting at the top of the midweek singles chart in the UK, B.o.B looks sure have a massive summer hit on his hands, replicating the success of the single in the USA.

His debut album B.oB Presents:The Adventures Of Bobby Ray is released in the UK on May 31st on Atlantic Records and has already gone straight to number one in the USA.

“I just want to show people that there are endless possibilities of what you can do, you don’t just have to be a rapper; you can be anything you want to be and whatever you do, just love it and it will show.”

That is B.oB’s philosophy and it certainly shows on the album, shaping up for one of the biggest releases of the year for the Atlanta based artist.

Opening with the beautiful Don’t Let Me Fall the album boasts an eclectic mix of tracks that journey through various musical genres without categorically falling into any specific pigeon hole.

Airplanes features the wonderful alternative indie voice of Paramore’s Hayley Williams to perfect effect alongside B.oB’s rap, while Ghost In The Machine, The Kids and I’ll Be In The Sky are likely reach mainstream success as future singles.

There is an Old Skool vibe going on, on Fame and a chunky funky bass driving 5th Dimension before the final assault of Airplanes Part II, featuring once again the lush vocals of Hayley Williams, this time alongside the unmistakable rapping tones of Eminem – an excellent place to end this trip.

This album is going to be monster massive for 2010!

Having spent much of last year sharing stages with such like-minded artists as Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, and Shwayze, B.o.B is currently out on a full-scale US tour supporting Atlantic labelmate Lupe Fiasco. He will be taking time out to visit the UK for a one off show, his first ever date in the UK at London’s Kings College on May 27th, well worth checking out.

For further information visit the B.o.B My Space or for exclusive tracks and videos head over to B.oB’s official website.

as day follows night - sarah blasko

Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night – Track By Track

In modern pop, Sarah Blasko is a rare beast. On the one hand, she is a fiercely-independent free spirit whose haunting music critics have run out of superlatives to describe. On the other, the 33 year old Australian is a multi-platinum selling star whose mantelpiece houses an ever increasing array of awards and who performed at the closing ceremony of Sydney’s Commonwealth Games.   Here she talks through her album ‘As Day Follows Night’ track by track…

Down On Love
This was the last song I wrote for the album.  I knew that I wanted an introduction, something that really brought you into the world of As Day Follows Night, to transport you somewhere magical.  It has a kind of romantic, cinematic Henry Mancini feel that is tender and sad but full of hope.

All I Want
A Morricone inspired sound to the recording, it explores the wilderness of the heart, the inherent loneliness in us all and the search to know ourselves at all costs.

Bird On A Wire
This song is sequenced closely to All I Want to give the feeling of being in a jazz club or at a show.  The lights go down and the next number starts.  The sound and the feel of Bird On A Wire is reminiscent of a classic song like ‘Fever’. The sizzling drums and double bass are at the centre of the drama. The song wasn’t written like that, in fact it began with an intricate guitar part, but this was abandoned for the space and energy that you now hear.

Hold On My Heart
This is a letter written to the heart.  The heart is a dear friend and it needs reminding to take care of itself and to not be so open. It’s going through that tough transition from childhood innocence to adolescence.  It’s still maturing and sometimes needs a guiding hand. The old fashioned sound of the double bass and the warbling musical saw give a wise, motherly quality to the song.

We Won’t Run
This is a very simple song about accepting things and letting go.   It’s about being honest and not hiding from anything.

Is My Baby Yours?
The classical guitar parts were based on the sounds of a famous Swedish guitar player, Cornelis Vreeswijk that Björn played to me while I was in Stockholm.  The recording is reminiscent of the classic production of artists like Karen Dalton and Leonard Cohen.  A simple song about being alone in love.

Sleeper Awake
This marks the second half of the record. There are two acts.  The beginning of this second act is like the turning point, it signals a change.  Sleeper Awake is the epic track of the record and a chance for all the elements to come together.  Most instruments in the palette feature in this song and have their place. It’s supposed to be like a gospel song about realising your own strength.

No Turning Back
A stomping reminder to not look back, the choice to get up when knocked down and keep moving forward.

Lost & Defeated
The recording was inspired in part by the sounds and feel of ‘I Put A Spell On You’ by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, though it started with the piano carrying the rhythm, now you hear the banjo carry this part.

Over & Over
The recording was inspired in part by Talking Heads’ ‘Road To Nowhere’ after I’d decided to include the lyrics and melody from this song in the last verse.  It seemed to fit well with the subject of the song.  I wrote this song to encourage myself while I was writing the album. A reminder that music’s role is to move people, not about perfection. Music without feeling is dead.

I Never Knew
This song speaks for itself.  It’s about the conflict of knowing that the love you feel isn’t enough sometimes.

Night & Day
The differences in people are what brings them together, makes what they share unique but it sometimes makes things difficult.

Review

The album As Day Follows Night is a beautifully produced collection of songs from Sarah Blasko, an Australian singer songwriter who has won the hearts and awards of her home country and is looking to break into the UK/European market.

Blasko is a gifted songwriter who possesses a wonderfully unique voice with an intimate and bewitching quality that works perfectly on this eclectic mix of tracks that take the listener on a personal journey, close to the heart of the singer.

It is not an ‘instant’ album, meaning that it falls short of the classic pop album that Blasko wanted it to be, it is however an endearing album that will grow the more the music is heard.

Highlights for me are Lost & Defeated, We Won’t Run, I Never Knew and Over & Over.

If like me you had not previously herad anything by Sarah Blasko check out this rather excellent introduction;

Sarah Blasko – We Won’t Run - Live

For further information visit Sarah Blasko’s website

R&B Anthems: 1979-2009

Yes, the countdown to Christmas, the most lucrative time of the year for the record industry, is in full swing and with it comes more compilation albums than I’ve had hot dinners – and I’ve had a lot of hot dinners!

Many of these albums will compile a selection of both old and new UK hits in an attempt to sell as many ‘units’ as possible; and Rhino Records latest compilation – R&B Anthems: 1979 – 2009 falls squarely into that category. But the title is completely misleading.

It’s a great compilation of 60 tracks from the past 30 years on 3CD’s featuring 12 UK number one singles.  But it is not solely an R&B compilation album.  Tracks like Dawn Penn’s reggae classic ‘You Don’t Love Me’, disco classics from the likes of Sister Sledge (‘We Are Family’), Anita Ward (‘Ring My Bell’) and McFadden & Whitehead (‘Ain’t No Stopping Us Now’) and soul masterpieces from Soul II Soul (‘Back To Life’) and Prince (‘Kiss’) are all great songs that work well as part of this retrospective.  But R&B they’re not!

CD1 starts off with Gnarls Barkley ‘Crazy’ & massive hits like Chipmunk’s ‘Diamond Rings’, Justin Timberlake’s ‘Rock Your Body’, Outkast! ‘Hey Ya’, Alicia Keys ‘No One’, right up to present day, with Estelle ‘American Boy’, Jordin Sparks ‘Battle Field’ and Flo Rida ‘Right Round’.

CD2 is a collection of older UK pop hits from a wide range of genres including Whitney’s ‘My Love Is Your Love’, Coolio ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, R Kelly ‘I Believe I Can Fly’, Fugees ‘Fu Gee La’, Jay Z ‘Hard Knock Life’, and Brandy & Monica ‘Boy Is Mine’ before embarking on a foray into the soon to be historic 00s with Missy Elliott ‘Get Your Freak On’, SugaBabes ‘Overload’and Craig David ‘Fill Me In’.

CD3 includes classic songs from disco and soul including Rose Royce ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’, Sister Sledge ‘We Are Family’ and McFadden & Whitehead ‘Aint No Stoppin Us Now’, Luther Vandross ‘Never Too Much’, Slave ‘Just A Touch of Love’, Joyce Simms ‘Come Into My Life, Prince’s ‘Kiss’ and the timeless Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince ‘Summertime’.  It also includes my favourite R&B track of all time, the wonderful ‘Right Here’ by SWV.

R&B Anthems: 1979 – 2009 – CD1
Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
Estelle – American Boy
Lemar – If There’s Any Justice
Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
Alicia Keys – No One
Justin Timberlake – Rock Your Body
Kelly Rowland – Work
Alesha Dixon – Breathe Slow
Missy Elliott – Get Your Freak On
OutKast – Hey Ya!
Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls
Aaliyah – More Than A Woman
Usher – Burn
Chris Brown – Forever
Wiley – Wearing My Rolex
Chipmunk – Diamond Rings
Ciara Feat. Justin Timberlake – Love Sex Magic
Jordin Sparks – Battlefield
Ironik – Tiny Dancer
Flo Rida – Right Round

R&B Anthems: 1979 – 2009 – CD2
Whitney Houston – My Love is Your Love
Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise
R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
Brandy Feat Monica – The Boy Is Mine
Mark Morrison – Return Of The Mack
TLC – No Scrubs
Jay-Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Mary Mary – Shackles
Dawn Penn – You Don’t Love Me (No,No,No)
The Fugees – Fu-Gee-La
Ginuwine – Pony
Next – Too Close
Brownstone – If You Love Me
Jade – Don’t Walk Away
Donell Jones – U Know What’s Up
De La Soul Feat Chaka Khan – All Good
Kandi – Don’t Think I’m Not
Pink – There You Go
Sugar Babes – Overload
Craig David – Fill Me In

R&B Anthems: 1979 – 2009 – CD3
Luther Vandross – Never Too Much
Terence Trent D’Arby – Sign Your Name
Soul II Soul – Back To Life
Prince – Kiss
McFadden & Whitehead – Aint No Stoppin Us Now
Sister Sledge – We Are Family
George Benson – Give Me The Night
Slave Feat Steve Arrington– Just A Touch Of Love
Joyce Sims – Come Into My Life
New Edition – Candy Girl
Anita Ward – Ring My Bell
Rose Royce – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
Chaka Khan -I Feel For You
Levert – Casanova
Lisa Lisa – I Wonder If I Take You Home
En Vogue – My Lovin (You’re Never Gonna Get It)
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby
Fresh Prince  Feat Jazzy Jeff – Summer Time
SWV – Right Here
Toni Braxton – Breath Again

R&B Anthems: 1979 – 2009 is released on 9th November on Rhino

I Am Chipmunk - debut album

Chipmunk releases his debut album I Am Chipmunk on Jive Records after his latest single, Oopsy Daisy sits at number 1 in the official UK singles chart.

In fact, I Am Chipmunk follows a string of singles that have made Chipmunk one of the most talked about breakthrough artists of 2009.  From Chip Diddy Chip to Diamond Rings and new single Oopsy Daisy, he has come a long way from his days as a 14 year-old printing off CD covers for mixtapes and selling them himself at school.

Over a year in the making, Chipmunk finished I Am Chipmunk once he left college after completing his A-Level exams, this summer.  This diverse and imaginative debut album features collaborations with N-Dubz and production from renowned underground beatmakers Maniac and StarzBeatz.

The album is eclectic in its output, from gritty grime to pop-tinted R&B. The current single, Oopsy Daisy is a brilliant upbeat ballad about a break-up, while the soaring synths of Loose My Life, co-starring Tulisa from N-Dubz, is a metaphor for Chipmunk’s approach to music-making.

Chipmunk explains: “The album is a representation of me and the first 18 years of my life.  I hope that people will see that as well as being commercial, it is also deep and well thought out.”

Chipmunk – I Am Chipmunk Tracklist:

1. Saviour
2. Chip Diddy Chip
3. Oopsy Daisy
4. Man Dem (Featuring Tinchy Stryder)
5. Diamond Rings (Featuring Emeli Sande)
6. Lose My Life (Featuring N Dubz)
7. I Am (Interval)
8. Dear Family
9. Beast (Featuring Loick Essien)
10. Look For Me (Featuring Talay Riley)
11. Role Model
12. Sometimes
13. Business (Featuring Young Spray)

Chipmunk’s festival performances this summer has helped to catapult him into the limelight.

Last week Chipmunk’s achievements over the last year were rewarded with an incredible 4 MOBO nominations including ‘Best Song’ and ‘Best UK Act’.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/chipmunkartist.

teitur-all my mistakes

Incredibly the rare song writing and  vocal talent of Teitur has somehow eluded the UK, in fact his 2008 album, the critically acclaimed The Singer was the the first of Teitur’s albums to be released here.

The latest album All My Mistakes which is released on Monday October 5th, represents the best of his previous albums with tracks taken from The Singer (2008), Stay Under The Stars (2006) and Poetry and Aeroplanes (2003).

As such All My Mistakes represents a perfect introduction to Teitur’s previous albums and to his incredible ability as a singer and song writer.

The songs are a document of his extraordinary journey from his home on the remote and isolated Faroe Islands to the United Kingdom, via LosAngeles, Denmark and whole host of other countries in between.

It is Teitur’s isolated upbringing, which informs much of his writing, creating songs that have been described by John Mayer as “jet fuel on
the fire of a broken heart”.

Praise for The Singer:
“Never Less Than Extraordinary” – The Guardian *****
“A Rare Beast” – The Independent *****
“Utterly Inspiring” – The Fly *****
“A wonderfully Idiosyncratic talent” – Sunday Times

Teitur will be touring the UK in support of All My Mistakes during October.  The album is released on Monday October 5th on A&G Records.

Bananarama release new album, Viva Bananarama

Bananarama, the most successful girl group of all time and who formed 27 years ago, have released their new album, Viva Bananarama on Fascination Records, and are now labelmates with the likes of Girls Aloud and The Saturdays.

Two of the original three members, Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward have written and recorded their 10th studio album.  During their illustrious career Bananarama have had phenomenal international success selling over 40 million records. With self penned hits such as ‘Cruel Summer’, ‘Robert de Niro’s Waiting’ and ‘Love In The First Degree’.

The Bananrama story starts a new chapter with the release of Viva Bananarama.  The album is a fresh take on their familiar dance pop formula that has brought them so much success in the past; and as with previous material the new album is strong with a very polished commercial sound production.  It will be interesting to see if Bananarama can still be as commercially successful in 2009 as they were back in the 1980’s.

Viva Bananarama continues to include self-penned material from Sara and Keren who throughout their career have been able to pinpoint and identify the right collaborators throughout their career.

In the early 1980’s they approached producers Jolley & Swain on the strength of their work on Imagination’s ‘Bodytalk’, which resulted UK hit singles like ‘Shy Boy’, ‘Cruel Summer’ and ‘Roberts De Niro’s Waiting.’ A few years later they heard Dead Or Alive’s ‘You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)’ and decided to work with Stock Aitken & Waterman on ‘Venus’, ‘Love In The First Degree’, ‘I Heard A Rumour’ and ‘I Want You Back’, which led to an entirely new phase for the band with 1987’s ‘Wow!’ album.

As recently as 2005 they were picking out Swedish hitmaking team Murlyn and in 2009 they’ve found a perfect foil in Ian Masterson, a producer whose credits range from Pet Shop Boys to Girls Aloud.

Bananarama’s Viva Bananarama is released on Frustration Records.

For more information visit www.Bananarama.co.uk

Defected Presents Classics In The House

Defected Presents Classics In The House
Release Date: 14th September 2009 Label: Defected Records

Defected Records present Classics In The House, a collection of classic House Music, Disco and R&B dancefloor anthems featuring UK chart and club hits from Bob Sinclar, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jamiroquai, Chic, Armand Van Helden, Moloko, Robin S and many more.

2009 marks the 10 year anniversary of the Defected Records music label, one of the most internationally recognisable dance brands. Another excuse to release a 3 CD compilation classic house sounds mixed by the Defected Records label boss and renowned House Music DJ, Simon Dunmore.

Classic disco tracks are dropped into the mix to create unexpected splashes of dance floor delight plus multiple special edits and ‘accapella’ mash ups.

Classics In The House also throws together current dancefloor hits including the 2009 Ibiza club hit La Mezcla from Michael Cleis.

Defected Presents Classics In The House reads like a who’s who of the dance scene from dance legends Armand Van Helden (You Don’t Know Me), Fish Go Deep (The Cure and The Cause) and Bob Sinclar (Rock The Party – Remix) to disco divas Chaka Khan (I’m Every Woman), Dee-Lite (Groove Is In The Heart), and Aretha Franklin (Respect).

Defected Presents Classics In The House CD1

01. Ultra Nate /Free
02. Blaze ft UDA ft Barbara Tucker/ most precious love
03. Patrice Rushen /haven’t you heard
04. Jon Cutler ‘It’s Yours’
05. Jamiroquai ‘Cosmic Girl’
06. En Vogue ‘Hold On’
07. Chic ‘Good Times’
08. Tweet ‘Boogie Tonight’
09. Shakedown ‘At Night’
Who Da Funk ‘Shiny Disco Balls’ (Accapella)
10. Ministers Da La Funk ‘Believe’
11. Joey Negro ‘Can’t Get High Without You’
12. Quentin Harris ‘Can’t Stop’
13. Aretha Franklin ‘Respect’
14. Daniel Bovie & Roy Rox ‘Love Me’
Chocolate Puma & Bingo Players ‘Touch Me’ (Accapella)
15. Kim Syms ‘Too Blind To See It’
16. Masters At Work ‘To Be In Love’

Defected Presents Classics In The House CD2

01.Bob Sinclar ‘Rock The Party’ (Remix)
02. Paul Johnson ‘Get Get Down’(Original)
03. Chaka Khan ‘I’m Every Woman’
04. DJ Gomi ‘Glad I Found You’(Scott Wozniack Remix)
05. Ruffneck ‘Everybody’
06. Todd Terry ‘Get Down’(Mousse T Remix)
07. Armand Van Helden ‘You Don’t Know Me’
08. New Order ‘Blue Monday’
09. Dee-Lite ‘Groove Is In The Heart’
10. Martin Solveig ‘Rockin Music’
11. Funkerman ‘Speed Up’
12. Chocolate Puma & Bingo Players ‘Disco Electrique’
13. Outwork ‘Electro’(Cube Guys Remix)
14. Pete Heller ‘Big Love’
Mike Dunn ‘Feel The Musik’ (Accapella)
15. Soul Central ‘Strings Of Life’
16. Octave One ‘Black Water’

Defected Presents Classics In The House CD3

01. Moloko ‘The Time Is Now’
02. Everything But The Girl ‘Missing’
03. Yasmeen ‘Ready Or Not’ (Copyright Old Skool Remix)
04. Kings Of Tomorrow ‘Finally’
05. Blaze feat Sybil ‘When I Fall In Love’
06. Praise Cats ‘Shine On Me’
07. Robin S ‘Show Me Love’
08. ATFC ‘Bad Habit’
09. Gwen McCrae ‘Keep The Fire Burnin’
10. De La Soul ‘Say No Go’
11. Jungle Brothers ‘What You Waitin For’
12. Fish Go Deep ‘The Cure and The Cause’
13. Michel Clies ‘La Mezcla’
14. The Heartists ‘Bela Horizonti’

Defected Presents Classics In The House is out now on Defected Records and is available on CD and Digitial Download.

Shena 'One Man Woman' album out now

After three successful singles, Shena releases her debut album One Man Woman on No Prisoners Records.

Shena is one of a few artisits at the centre of the growing Nu Disco movement sweeping across UK clubs and creeping into daytime radio station playlists.

Shena’s three singles to date Can’t Stop The Rain, My Fantasy and the current single, Nasty Little Rumour, are all included.

Anyone old enough to remember the late 1970’s for its glitterballs and flares rather than safety pins and bondage trousers will love this album.  My Fantasy is reminiscent of Earth, Wind & Fire’s Boogie Wonderland with its funky rhythm and bold brass section; and listening to I Can’t Stop The Rain made me start singing I Want Your Love by Chic.   And the catchy pop of  Nasty Little Rumour reminds me of New In Town by fellow Nu Disco pop queen, Little Boots.

Not quite as blatant as an Oasis album, nevertheless Shena’s One Man Woman album is full of 1970’s disco references which will introduce a new generation to the likes of Anita Ward, Sister Sledge and Chic; while appealing to forty-something Radio 2 listeners wishing to dust down their stack heels and rare grooves, which can’t be a bad thing, can it?

Bizarrely, curent daytime radio support is coming from the likes of Steve Wright, Terry Wogan and Ken Bruce while cool, trendy clubs all over the UK are pumping out Nu Disco to a younger generation raised on house, trance and techno techno techno!

Looking for new ideas DJ’s are looking to old vinyl collections to fill floors at clubs such as Disco Bloodbath, Horse Meat Disco and LowLife in London, Melting Pot in Glasgow, Auto Disco in Dundee, El Diablo’s in Manchester and Basement Boogaloo in Nottingham.

One Man Woman looks set to push Shena across the dancefloor and into the limelight of pop success in 2009.

For more information visit the Shena website or Shena MySpace page.