Gerry Rafferty began his music career in a folk group with comedian Billy Connolly as The Humblebums.  They split when Connolly’s comedy became a more prominent part of the set and went on to form Stealers Wheel in 1972 with an old school friend, Joe Egan. They had a commercial hit single with the folk pop music classic, Stuck In The Middle With You in the same year.

Rafferty left Stealers Wheel in 1975 and in 1978 had a massive hit single with Baker Street in the UK and United States. Baker Street was taken from his second solo album, City To City, which sold over 5.5 million copies.

In 1992 director Quentin Tarantino used Stuck in the Middle in his debut film Reservoir Dogs, and was used in the infamous Michael Madsen ear-cutting scene, reviving interest in both Gerry Rafferty and Stealers Wheel.

Stealers Wheel – Stuck In The Middle With You

Gerry Rafferty R.I.P.

burlesque soundtrack album

Christina Aguilera makes her film debut playing the lead role in the much anticipated new movie Burlesque which will be released nationwide on December 17th. She is joined by music and movie veteran Cher who will be making her first major screen appearance since 1999.

The soundtrack to the Sony Pictures film Burlesque will be released prior to the opening of the film on November 222nd through RCA Label Group.

Burlesque contains brand new songs performed and co-written by the five time Grammy winner Aguilera, with production by Tricky Stewart, Linda Perry and Ron Fair with songwriting by Claude Kelly, Tricky Stewart and Sia.

The soundtrack features two brand new tracks performed by the legendary Cher, including ‘You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me’, a powerful Diane Warren-penned ballad, produced by Matt Serletic. This marks Cher’s first new original song in seven years as well as her first movie musical.

The movie also includes remakes  of classic songs such as Etta James’ ‘Something’s Got A Hold On Me’ and ‘Tough Lover’ and Mae West’s ‘A Guy What Takes His Time’ –  all performed by the inimitable Christina Aguilera.

Tracklisting;

01 Something’s Got A Hold On Me –  Christina Aguilera

02 Welcome To Burlesque –  Cher

03 Tough Lover  - Christina Aguilera

04 But I Am A Good Girl  - Christina Aguilera

05 Guy What Takes His Time –  Christina Aguilera

06 Express  - Christina Aguilera

07 You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me  - Cher

08 Bound To You  - Christina Aguilera

09 Show Me How You Burlesque  - Christina Aguilera

10 The Beautiful People (from Burlesque) – Christina Aguilera

SoulBoy Film - Northern Soul Soundtrack CD

I can’t vouch for the film, and to be frank, I’m sceptical that it’ll be any good, but at the risk of stating the bleedin’ obvious, any film of this ilk has got to get the music right. Well, the good news is that the makers of SoulBoy have done exactly that.

I’m no connoisseur, having only once attended a club that could loosely bill itself as a ‘northern soul nite’. I was already in my thirties, had an absolute ball, and then felt deeply melancholic that I’d spent my twenties drinking in boozers with mates and old geezers rather than seeking out soul brothers & sisters to dance, in similarly sweaty all-nighters, to this sweet, sweet music.

Whether you’ll buy this 49-track selection depends on how many other double-disc northern soul comps you own. Although you end up with Frank Wilson’s Do I Love You, Dobie Gray’s In Crowd, The Tams Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy or Al Wilson’s The Snake for the nth time, good as they are, all but the truly battle-hardened will always discover previously unheard gems.

New gems here, to my ears, include Sweet Darling by Popcorn and the Soul Messengers, Tell Me It’s Just a Rumour Baby by the Isley Brothers, The Dells’ Wear It On Our Face, Luther Ingram’s If It’s All the Same to You Babe and a vocal version of Steve Karmen’s Breakaway.

Of course, one can never tire of hearing Patti and the Emblems I’m Gonna Love You a Long Time, Dean Parrish’s I’m On My Way, Gloria Jones’ original of Tainted Love, the utterly sublime Nothing But a Heartache from The Flirtations or anything by Jackie Wilson (in this case it’s Soul Galore).

I know not if those who have ‘Kept the Faith’ down the years, building libraries of exorbitantly-priced but cherished 7” discs,  approve of the instant soul collection that these comps allow, but this great music  deserves an audience and to expose teenagers to this, as I imagine the film will do, can only be a good thing, baby.

If you’re new to the concept of northern soul this set would be a pretty good place to start, but I warn you, it might just change your life.

Soulboy Original Motion Picture Tracklisting:

Disc 1

1. This Place Will Blow Your Mind – Various Artists
2. The Snake – Al Wilson
3. Aint That A Lot Of Love – Homer Banks
4. Turn To me – Chris Towns
5. The In Crowd – Dobie Gray
6. Breakaway Part 2 – Steve Karmen
7. Tainted Love – Gloria Jones
8. Too Late – Larry Williams, Johnny Watson
9. The Girls Got It – Billy Preston
10. Our Love Is Getting Stronger – Jason Knight
11. Sweet Darling – Popcorn & The Soul Messengers
12. You Didn’t Say A Word – Yvonne Baker
13. Call On Me – Percy Milem
14. The Joker – The Mylestones
15. Trackdown – Harvey Scales & The 7 Sounds
16. Soul Galore – Jackie Wilson
17. Cracked Up Over You – Lee Rodgers
18. I’m Gonna Love You A Long Time – Patti & The Emblems
19. All of My Life – Detroit Soul
20. If It’s All The Same To You Babe – Luther Ingram
21. So Is The Sun – World Column
22. If It’s For Real Baby – Porgy & Monarchs
23. Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – The Tams
24. I’m On My Way – Dean Parrish
25. When You’re Young And In Love – The Marvelettes
26. On A Magic Carpet Ride – Gabriella Cilmi

Disc 2

1. Nothing But A Heartache – The Flirtations
2. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
3. I Got A Feeling – Barbara Randolph
4. Wear It On Our Face (a/k/a Wear It On Your Face) – The Dells, Charles Stepney
5. Tell Me It’s Just A Rumor Baby – The Isley Brothers
6. Love, Love, Love – Bobby Hebb
7. I’ll Turn To Stone – Four Tops
8. Just A Little Misunderstanding – The Contours
9. Goodbye (Nothing To Say) – Nosmo King, The Javells
10. Helpless – Kim Weston
11. Gotta Have Your Love – The Sapphires
12. Let’s Wade In The Water – Marlena Shaw
13. If I Could Only Be Sure – Nolan Porter
14. All I Do Is Think About You – Brenda Holloway
15. He Who Picks A Rose – Jimmy Ruffin
16. Happy – William Bell
17. Ordinary Joe – Terry Callier
18. What More Could A Boy Ask For – The Spinners
19. Take My Hand – The Dalton Boys
20. Every Time I See You, I Go Wild! – J.J. Barnes
21. Soul Self Satisfaction – Earl Jackson
22. Long After Tonight Is All Over – Jimmy Radcliffe
23. Thank You – Frankie Valli
24. Heaven Must Have Sent You – The Elgins

SoulBoy Original Motion Picture Film Soundtrack CD is out on Universal Records.

Step Up 3D Soundtrack

Atlantic Records release the original soundtrack to the upcoming dance movie Step Up 3D, on July 26th, the film opens in cinemas across the UK on August 6th.

Step Up 3D is the third in the series of the prestigious dance phenomenon; the coming-of-age feel-good dance romance is set to take this summer by storm. The film stars Harry Shum Jr., Adam Sevani, Ally Maki, Sharni Vinson and Kylie Goldstein and is directed by the award-winning Jon M. Chu.

With Step Up’s prior soundtracks (released in 2006 and 2008) now approaching cumulative sales of one million copies, the fresh release stars Estelle, Trey Songz, Flo Rida and many more hot talents in the urban sphere, embodying the fantastic line-up of the film’s previous releases.

Flo Rida is responsible for the first single to be taken from the soundtrack, his sure fire hit Club Can’t Handle Me is produced by the infamous David Guetta, practically insuring a hit record.

The single Club Can’t Handle Me is released on August 2nd and Flo Rida will be hoping for a repeat of his previous single releases, Low (ft T Pain) reached number 1 in 2008 and stayed on the charts for no less than a year, while Right Round debuted at number 1 in 2009.

Flo Rida ft. David Guetta – Club Can’t Handle Me

Step Up 3D Original Motion Picture  Soundtrack  tracklisting:

1. Flo Rida (feat. David Guetta) – Club Can’t Handle Me
2. Roscoe Dash and T-Pain (feat. Fabo) – My Own Step (Theme from Step Up 3D)
3. Sophia Fresh (feat. T-Pain) – This Instant
4. Trey Songz – Already Taken
5. Laza Morgan – This Girl
6. Chromeo – Fancy Footwork
7. Jesse McCartney – Up
8. Estelle (feat. Kardinal Offishall) – Freak
9. N.A.S.A. (feat. M.I.A., Spank Rock, Santigold and Nick Zinner) – Whachadoin?
10. Busta Rhymes – Tear Da Roof Off
11. MIMS – Move (If You Wanna)
12. Get Cool – Shawty Got Moves
13. Wisin y Yandel – Irresistible
14. Sophia Del Carmen (feat. Pitbull) – No Te Quiero

Scott Pilgrm vs. The World OST

Universal Music have announced the release date of the soundtrack to the highly anticipated Edgar Wright film Scott Pilgrm vs. The World staring Michael Cera.

The album will be released on August 23rd ahead of the movie which opens across the UK on August 25th. The soundtrack is an audio manifestation of the exploits seen in the action-comedy directed by genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) and starring Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad).

About the movie:
Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera).  A bass guitarist for totally average garage band Sex Bob-Omb, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams…literally.  The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is battling her seven evil exes that are coming to kill him.   Wright tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker’s quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend.  It’s getting rid of them that proves difficult.  From the girl who kicked his heart’s ass—and now is back in town—to the teenage distraction he’s trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn’t been easy.  He soon discovers his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.

As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues’ gallery from her past—from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsomely identical twins.  And if Scott Pilgrim hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over.

About the soundtrack:
Edgar Wright noted, “Music is such an integral part of the Scott Pilgrim books that myself and Nigel have been working on the soundtrack for nearly two years. This collection of songs represents an amazing span of artists. Some inspired Bryan Lee O’Malley in the creation of the comic, some ‘soundtracked’ our lives while making the movie and most excitingly, some of our favourite artists contributed new songs that are performed in the movie. It was a thrill to work with Beck, Metric and Broken Social Scene on the original soundtrack and I think you will enjoy the loud fruits of this collaboration.”

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) includes a number of original songs composed by alternative/modern rock kingpin Beck.  They are performed in the film by Sex Bob-Omb, the group featuring Scott Pilgrim (Cera) on bass, Stephen Stills (Mark Webber) on lead vocals and guitar and Kim Pine (Alison Pill) on drums.

Cast members perform the band’s vocals, with multi-platinum and Grammy Award winner Beck providing instrumentation – a unique collaboration unprecedented in the annals of soundtrack albums.  Beck’s Sex Bob- Omb songs, including the grunge-infused ‘Garbage Truck’ and the alternative-themed ‘Summertime,’ are woven seamlessly into the film.  Both the film and album feature four Sex Bob-Omb tracks, as well as ‘Ramona,’ a Beck (only) song featured here in both acoustic and lush orchestral arrangements.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) track listing:
We Are Sex Bob-Omb – Sex Bob-Omb
Scott Pilgrim – Plumtree
I Heard Ramona Sing – Frank Black
By Your Side – Beachwood Sparks
O Katrina! – Black Lips
I’m So Sad, So Very, Very Sad – Crash and the Boys
We Hate You Please Die – Crash and the Boys
Garbage Truck – Sex Bob-Omb
Teenage Dream – T. Rex
Sleazy Bed Track – The Bluetones
It’s Getting Boring By The Sea – Blood Red Shoes
Black Sheep – Metric
Threshold – Sex Bob-Omb
Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl – Broken Social Scene
Under My Thumb – The Rolling Stones
Ramona (Acoustic) – Beck
Ramona – Beck
Summertime – Sex Bob-Omb
Threshold 8 bit – Brian LeBarton

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

The latest and much anticipated installment of The Twilight series of films, Eclipse, will open in cinema’s across the UK on June 30th. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Bryce Dallas Howard, Billy Burke and Dakota Fanning and is directed by David Slade.

In Eclipse, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge.

In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack (Chop Shop/Atlantic) will be released in the UK on June 7, 2010. The first single from the album will be Muse with “Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)”.

The Twilight Saga:Eclipse soundtrack tracklisting:

1.      Eclipse (All Yours) by Metric
2.      Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever) by Muse
3.      Ours by The Bravery
4.      Heavy In Your Arms by Florence + The Machine
5.      My Love by Sia
6.      Atlas performed by Fanfarlo
7.      Chop And Change by The Black Keys
8.      Rolling In On A Burning Tire by The Dead Weather
9.      Let’s Get Lost by Beck and Bat For Lashes
10.     Jonathan Low by Vampire Weekend
11.     With You In My Head (feat The Black Angels) by UNKLE
12.     A Million Miles An Hour by Eastern Conference Champions
13.     Life On Earth by Band of Horses
14.     What Part Of Forever by Cee-Lo
15.     Jacob’s Theme by Howard Shore

Remember Me - The Soundtrack

Remember Me: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is released on April 19 through Atlantic Records.

The musical companion to the cinematic romance drama starring Robert Pattinson, Emilie De Ravin and Pierce Brosnan, gathers together a stunning collection of tracks from the likes of Sigur Ros, The Sea and Cake, Luscious Jackson, and Sparklehorse.  The highly anticipated film opened across the UK on April 2.

Tyler (Robert Pattinson) is a rebellious young man living in New York City who has lost his way ever since a family tragedy. After meeting kindred spirit Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate, life begins to look much better but the circumstances that brought them together eventually threaten to tear them apart.

An unforgettable love story, Remember Me is directed by Allan Coulter (Hollywoodland) and also stars Pierce Brosnan, Academy Award winner Chris Cooper (Adaptation), Academy Award nominee Lena Olin (Chocolat) and introduces Ruby Jerins (Nurse Jackie).

Remember Me tracklisting;

1. Alien Lover (Luscious Jackson)
2. Play On (Kottonmouth Kings)
3. Kandles (National Skyline)
4. Soft Shoulder (Ani Difranco)
5. Have Mercy (Two Ton Boa)
6. Hanging With The Wrong Crowd (Ed Harcourt)
7. Why Did We Ever Meet (The Promise Ring)
8. You Can See Me (Supergrass)
9. Sea Of Teeth (Sparklehorse)
10. Andvari (Sigur Ros)
11. Parasol (The Sea And Cake)
12. Soul Brother (Us3)
13. Open Wide (Long Hind Legs)
14. The Sun Keeps Shining On Me (Fonda)

avatar soundtrack album

The soundtrack album Avatar: Music From The Motion Picture, featuring music composed by James Horner, has been released to coincide with the release of the film in UK cinemas.

Horner, who won an Academy Award for his ‘Titanic’ soundtrack, has composed and conducted the music that accompanies Avatar, which is highlighted by the end title track I See You.

I See You is performed by none other than UK X-Factor winner Leona Lewis and is produced by James Horner and Simon Franglen, the team behind ‘Titanic’ theme song ‘My Heart Will Go On.’

Leona Lewis – I See You

Both the single I See You, performed by Leona Lewis and the album Avatar: Music From The Motion Picture, composed and conducted by James Horner, have been released on Atlantic Records and are available in record shops, supermarkets and online music stores now.

jennifers body

The soundtrack album for the film Jennifer’s Body is released on October 26th on Fuelled by Ramen Records, with a star studded tracklisting that reads like a who’s who of the current pop music scene.

The album features previously unreleased tracks from the likes of Panic! At the Disco, Cobra Starship and Paramore’s Hayley Williams along with tracks from Little Boots, Silversun Pickups, Florence and the Machine and Dashboard Confessional.

The lead single from the album is New Perspective performed by the new look Panic! at the Disco featuring Brendan  Urie and Spemcer Smith at the helm. The band who are big fans of both Megan Fox (who isn’t?) and screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno), say they are flattered to have their track included in the film soundtrack.

Jennifer’s Body sees high school student Jennifer (Megan Fox) possessed by a hungry demon and transformed from being ‘high school evil’ – gorgeous and stuck-up with an attitude – to the real deal: proper evil. The beauty becomes a pale, sickly creature on the hunt for meat, and guys who never stood a chance before take on new luster in the light of her insatiable appetite. Her lifelong best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) must step up to protect the town’s young men, including nerdy boyfriend Chip.

The sexy horror film with a wicked sense of humour opens in cinemas across the UK on October 28th.

The video to accompany the lead single from Panic! at the Disco – New Perspective features clips from the film Jennifer’s Body. Watch it here:

Jennifer’s Body tracklisting:
1. Kiss With A Fist – Florence and The Machine
2. New Perspective – Panic At The Disco
3. Teenagers – Hayley Williams
4. New In Town – Little Boots
5. Finishing School – Dashboard Confessional
6. Through The Trees – Low Shoulder
7. Time – Cute Is What We Aim For
8. I Can See Clearly – Screeching Weasel
9. Chew Me Up – Cobra Starship
10. Toxic Valentine – All Time Low
11. I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend – Black Kids
12. Death – White Lies
13. Celestial Crown – The Sword
14. Little Lover’s So Polite – Silversun Pickups
15. Ready For The Floor – Lissy Trullie

Although I first heard this last week when it was sent over by a friend, it is already my favourite track of the moment. Making steady progress in the UK singles chart Paper Planes moved up to number 23 in yesterdays UK Top Forty.

Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam is the real name behind M.I.A, a songwriter, vocalist, producer and visual artist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her debut album Arular was a 2005 Mercury prize nomination. Clever, sexy and cool, what more could you ask?

M.I.A. – Paper Planes