Everything80s.co.uk

Music legend Kenny Rogers announces UK dates for June and July

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:40:46 GMT

Country and pop superstar Kenny Rogers comes to the UK for three arena dates this summer, taking in performances in at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on 29th June, the LG Arena in Birmingham on 1st July and finally the 02 Apollo in Manchester on 2nd July.

Known for his distinctive raspy vocals and ability to vividly inhabit each song he performs, Rogers has enjoyed great success during a storied career of five and a half decades. A groundbreaking recording artist and consummate entertainer, the legendary music icon is one of the elite few whose voice is instantly recognisable the world over.

A 2013 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee, Rogers has endeared music lovers around the globe with his amazing songs, heartfelt performances and rare storytelling ability while receiving countless awards for his music and charity work, including 3 Grammy Awards, 18 American Music Awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards and 5 Country Music Association Awards. He has recorded 24 Number 1 songs and 12 Number 1 albums. Some of his most famous classic hit songs include: The Gambler, Lucille, Islands in the Stream, Lady, Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town and Coward of the County to name just a few.

Kenny Rogers is the RIAA’s 8th best selling male artist of all time with 1 Diamond album, 19 Platinum albums, 31 Gold albums and sales of more than 120 million records worldwide. The first country artist to consistently sell out arenas, Rogers has played to millions of fans around the world. Against all odds, he has charted a record within each of the last seven decades (50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s and 2010’s).

In 2012, Rogers completed his Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Artist-in-Residence in Nashville, which was marked by two intimate performances at the Hall of Fame’s Ford Theatre. It was announced there that he had signed a long-term recording contract with Warner Bros. Records. A new album is planned for release later this year.

His autobiography, Luck Or Something Like It – A Memoir, released in October 2012, is a New York Times Best Seller. Rogers will make stops in the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Morocco, Canada and the U.S. on his 2013 World Tour.

Kenny Rogers is a singer, musician, songwriter, photographer, producer, actor and of course…The Gambler.

Live dates:

MOTORPOINT ARENA CARDIFF 29th June
LG ARENA BIRMINGHAM 1st July
02 APOLLO MANCHESTER 2nd July

Tickets are on sale now and can be bought online:

ticketmaster.co.uk Tel: 0844 844 0444
eventim.co.uk Tel: 0844 249 1000
theticketfactory.com Tel: 0844 338 8000
seetickets.com Tel: 0871 220 0260

THE MOODY BLUES ‘TIMELESS FLIGHT’ 17 DISC BOX SET TO BE RELEASED ON JUNE 3rd 2013

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:58:58 GMT

The Moody Blues will release a definitive career-spanning box set entitled ‘Timeless Flight’ on June 3rd 2013. Housed in a heavy-duty LP-sized hard-back slipcase, this lavish box set contains 17 discs including:

11 remastered CDs featuring key album tracks, previously unreleased mixes, out-takes and complete live concerts
3 DVDs of rare television performances from around the world, promotional videos and the previously unreleased live concert from Olympia, Paris in 1970
3 DVD audio discs containing the long-deleted 5:1 surround sound mixes of Days Of Future Passed, On The Threshold Of A Dream, To Our Children's Children's Children, A Question Of Balance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Seventh Sojourn
120-page hard-back book including a new essay by Moody Blues researcher Mark Powell plus rare and previously unseen photos
Replica full colour tour poster and discography
Replica ‘Threshold’ press pack containing photos and memorabilia
Exclusive ‘Timeless Flight’ fabric patch

There will also be an extremely limited edition version of ‘Timeless Flight' available exclusively from Universal Music’s Box Sets store.

The Moody Blues, still rocking in 2013 with original members Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme Edge, have released 24 albums in a career spanning nearly five decades. They have sold over 50 million albums, earning them eighteen platinum discs and all manner of awards including an Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and the Golden Ticket award for selling the most tickets at Madison Square Garden, and have even had the honour of appearing in an episode of The Simpsons. Their classic album Days of Future Passed heralded the era of the concept album and elaborate sleeve artwork that would epitomise the Progressive Rock movement that followed.

Formed in 1964 in Birmingham the Moody Blues came from the same gene pool that would give the world Traffic, the Move, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Slade. The original line-up of the band (Denny Laine, Graeme Edge, Clint Warwick, Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder) scored a global number one hit with Go Now, but struggled to follow up this success and Warwick and Laine left the group to be replaced by John Lodge and Justin Hayward respectively in 1966. For the next few months the band crafted a new set of original compositions that would change their fortunes.

Drastically re-thinking their musical approach, the band began to compose new material in a uniquely different style. Eager to recoup some of the money they had invested in the band, Decca asked the Moody Blues to record a rock version of Dvorak’s New World Symphony to demonstrate a new stereo system they were launching known as ‘Deramic’ sound. Instead, the Moodies, along with producer Tony Clarke, used the orchestral settings for a suite of their own songs, which resulted in Days Of Future Passed, a record that was as groundbreaking as any of that era and featured the band’s signature song, Nights In White Satin. This proved a turning point for the band and they soon became acknowledged masters of lushly orchestrated psychedelic rock and trailblazers in the use of the mellotron, which they used both live and in the studio to mimic the sounds of a full orchestra. Era defining albums such as In Search Of The Lost Chord, On The Threshold Of A Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, A Question Of Balance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Seventh Sojourn followed and the Moody Blues have continued to release albums through the Eighties and Nineties and into the Noughties and thrilling audiences with their live shows all over the world.

To pre-order your copy of this phenomenal box set click here.

Wonderful Life by Black The Deluxe Edition 2013

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:14:39 GMT

On April 1^st we will see the release of an extended edition of the hugely successful debut album, Wonderful Life by Black (alias for British singer-songwriter Colin Vearncombe). Although Black released his first record in 1981 it wasn’t until 1987 and the release of top 10 single Sweetest Smile that he finally made his mark in the UK charts, what followed was a re-release of his classic melancholy worldwide smash hit Wonderful Life which really made people sit up and take notice. The album of the same name was released shortly after garnering similar success as well as earning commercial and critical acclaim, selling over 1.5 million copies in the process.

A special edition of this musical masterpiece is being re-released as a 2CD deluxe edition, it will comprise of the full original album plus a second CD of 14 bonus tracks, including the original Ugly Man version of the Wonderful Life single plus a selection of B-sides and four songs from a 1986 Janice Long session. The album’s liner notes come complete with a specially commissioned interview with Colin.

Wonderful Life is an exceptional collection of soulful/jazz pop songs infused with the sound of synths and electric guitar. This is an album that, although may sound dated to some, is a pure work of art, a diverse lyrical and musical rollercoaster all accompanied with the instantly identifiable vocals of Vearncombe. A selection of relaxed songs like the synth driven Paradise and I Just Grew Tired fused together with some upbeat tempo tracks such as the lively Just Making Memories, the guitar led rock number Everything’s Coming Up Roses and Sometimes For The Asking. Not forgetting the magnificent brooding ballads Sweetest Smile and Everything80s favourite Wonderful Life with a well-crafted musical and vocal arrangement that captures you from that opening riff.

It’s not surprising that this intellectual album spawned two Top 10 hits, as well as countless cover versions of the title track which still features in many adverts, TV programs and films. This classic album is a timeless body of work, one that doesn’t stay within one musical direction but gives you a selection of reflective instrumentals, superb vocals, strong rhythm’s, 80s synth pop beats as well as a distinguishable sound and poignant lyrics that are synonymous with Black.

Overall this edition will without a doubt sharpen the desire with loyal fans as well as present itself well to a new generation. The 2^nd CD is full of captivating material and gives us some B-Sides, alternative mixes, extended versions, from the superb pan pipe sounds of Dagger, to the fantastic pop rock sounds of Life Calls as well as the original recording of Wonderful Life.

Colin Vearncombe may not have had the commercial success that this album once brought but he continues to record as well as perform today and after his passion for songwriting was rejuvenated in 1998 has since gone on to release a number of acclaimed albums. As a phenomenal songwriter and musician he will also undertake a 9-date, acoustic tour of the UK this April starting in Eastney on the 7th.

To find out more and to see if Black will be coming to a town near you then check out his website www.colinvearncombe.com

To Pre-Order a copy of the deluxe edition of Wonderful Life click here.

Review by Carli Davies

www.everything80s.co.uk

Tracklisting

Disc One:

1. Wonderful Life

2. Everything Is Coming Up Roses

3. Sometimes For The Asking

4. Finder

5. Paradise

6. I’m Not Afraid

7. I Just Grew Tired

8. Blue

9. Just Making Memories

10. Sweetest Smile

11. Ravel in the Rain

12. Leave Yourself Alone

13. Sixteens

14. It’s Not You Lady Jane

15. Hardly Star-Crossed Lovers

Disc Two:

1. Wonderful Life (Ugly Man 12 Inch From Vinyl)

2. Birthday Night (Ugly Man 7 Inch From Vinyl)

3. Dagger Reel (7 Inch B)

4. Sometimes For The Asking (New Recording B Side)

5. Sometimes For The Asking (Echo Bass & Sax)

6. Everything’s Coming Up Roses (The Fairly Mental Mix)

7. Have It Your Own Way (B-Side)

8. My Lover (B-Side)

9. Life Calls (7 Inch B-Side)

10. Had Enough (12 Inch B-Side)

11. All We Need Is The Money (12 Inch B-Side)

Transvision Vamp Re-Presents Pop Art and Velveteen...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:42:44 GMT

After signing to MCA in 1986 and their non-charting first single in 1988 Transvision Vamp finally arrived making a stamp on the UK charts with their single, I Want Your Love hitting the number 5 spot, their sound not quite bubble-gum pop and not quite hard rock but resting somewhere in between with a nice bit of punk infusion thrown in. A flamboyant mix of synths, drums and guitars, backed up by the songwriting of Nick Sayer and musical muscle of Dave Parsons and Tex Axile all topped off with the incredible voice of lead singer Wendy James who was quite frankly a bit of sexy, edgy pop dynamite.

I was a huge fan of this fun; rebellious group so to hear that on the 25^th March we will see the re-release of their first two highly successful albums Pop Art and Velveteen was literally music to my ears. The albums are being released as 2-CD sets with each featuring a bonus disc full of B-sides and rarities, guaranteed to produce effervescent flashbacks to when Transvision Vamp were at the forefront, with their abounding enthusiasm, desire and angst. A definite must for any fan of this underrated band who after massive chart success in the UK and abroad disbanded in 1992.

POP ART

Debut album Pop Art was released in 1988 landing at No 4 in the UK album charts as well as gaining huge support abroad including Australia. This debut turns 25 years old this year and is just as fresh as it was back in the day, with top tracks such as the loud in your face guitar driven I Want Your Love all wrapped up with a nice punk bow, the pop anthem with attitude Tell That Girl to Shut Up as well as the energetic Revolution Baby all the way to the more refined melodic ballad Sister Moon ending the album with the sensually charged Sex Kick. This album is also an expanded edition featuring 4 tracks from the BBC’s Andy Kershaw Sessions.

The bonus disc gives us 18 tracks featuring single remixes and appealing B-Sides kicking off in the form of the toe tapping Vid Kid Vamp following up with some other catchy tunes such as the awe-inspiring Honey Honey showing off James sweet raw vocals as well as the heartfelt ballad Walk On By. A great accompaniment to an already fabulous album.

POP ART TRACKLISITNG

DISC ONE

1. Trash City

2. I Want Your Love

3. Sister Moon

4. Psychosonic Cindy

5. Revolution Baby

6. Tell That Girl To Shut Up

7. Wild Star

8. Hanging Out With Halo Jones

9. Andy Warhol's Dead

10. Sex Kick

11. Trash City (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

12. Andy Warhol's Dead (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

13. Sweet Thing (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

14. Sex Kick (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

DISC TWO

1. Vid Kid Vamp (B-Side Revolution Baby)

2. Revolution Baby (Electra-Glide Mix)

3. No It U Lover (B-Side Revolution Baby)

4. God Save The Royalties (B-Side Tell That Girl)

5. Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Extended Mix)

6. Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Knuckle Duster Mix)

7. Sweet Thing (B-Side I Don’t Want Your Money)

8. Evolution Evie (Acoustic Version) (B-Side I Don’t Want Your Money)

9. I Want Your Love (I Don't Want Your Money Mix)

10. Evolution Evie (Electric Version) (B-Side I Don’t Want Your Money)

11. Honey Honey (B-Side Revolution Baby)

12. Long Lonely Weekend (B-Side Revolution Baby)

13. Vid Kid Vamp (Remix) (B-Side Revolution Baby)

14. Sister Moon (7" Version)

15. Oh Yeah (B-Side Sister Moon)

16. Walk On By (B-Side Sister Moon)

17. Sex Kick (Ciao Portobello) (B-Side Sister Moon)

18. Sister Moon (Groove On) (B-Side Sister Moon)

VELVETEEN

Their second album Velveteen followed in 1989 and gave us the incredible stomping track Baby, I Don’t Care, their most successful single and one that packed a vocal, melodic and instrumental punch. Velveteen not only hit the UK top spot but hit No 2 in Australia, an album full of vitality, riffs to rock your socks off, plenty of attitude as well as bucket loads of sex appeal and is definitely one of my favourites. This record is varied in terms of tracks from the guitar driven catchy single The Only One, to the synthpop led Down On You as well as the up tempo Landslide of Love to the slow harmonious ballad Song to the Stars, however apart from the downright awesome Baby I Don’t Care the other top song on this album has to be the multifaceted dramatic title track Velveteen, a song that gives us guitar, strings, melody, great lyrics and manages to hold your attention for the full 9.51 minutes, you can only listen in awe as it travels through various shifts from rock to pop to ballad and back again, a track that is just genius in its production.

Disc 2 features lots of B Sides, Remixes, Demos and Extended Editions as well as Live versions of Down On You and Last Time and is another great album in itself, a collection that has been put together well.

VELVETEEN TRACKLISTING

DISC ONE

1. Baby I Don't Care

2. The Only One

3. Landslide Of Love

4. Falling For A Goldmine

5. Down On You

6. Song To The Stars

7. Kiss Their Sons

8. Born To Be Sold

9. Pay The Ghosts

10. Bad Valentine

11. Velveteen

DISC TWO

1. Baby I Don't Care (Abigail's Party Mix)

2. Sex Kick (Demo Version)

3. Time For Change (B-Side Baby I Don’t Care)

4. Strings Of My Heart (B-Side Baby I Don’t Care)

5. Saturn 5 (Demo Version) (B-Side Baby I Don’t Care)

6. The Mystery Song (B-Side The Only One)

7. Love Me (B-Side The Only One)

8. The Only One (Extended Mix)

9. Landslide Of Love (Extended Mix)

10. W11 Blues (B-Side Landslide of Love)

11. Hardtime (B-Side Landslide of Love)

12. He's The Only One For Me (B-Side Landslide of Love)

13. Kiss Me (B-Side Born To Be Sold)

14. Down On You (Live Version) (B-Side Born To Be Sold)

15. Last Time (Live Version) (B-Side Born To Be Sold)

Overall both albums give us an exceptional collection of pop/rock songs, the B-Sides and remixes will stand out to fans and are yet another two great albums to come out of the 80s decade. These reissues will no doubt sharpen the desire with loyal fans as well as present the band well to a new generation.

We have a copy of each album to give away in our March Competition! To be in with a chance of winning please enter here: Everything80s

To Pre Order Pop Art Click Here

To Pre Order Velveteen Click Here

Review Written by Carli Davies

www.everything80s.co.uk

Universal Release Deluxe Edition of Dio: Dream Evil Album

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:30:03 GMT

In 2012 we were given deluxe editions of Dio’s first 3 albums and now on 4^th March 2013 their fourth album Dream Evil, which was originally released on July 21, 1987, is getting the preferential treatment. This album has to be one of Dio’s finest; a classic example of 80’s metal at its best, an underrated gem that deserves vast recognition. Without a doubt Ronnie James Dio was a metal hero, a vocalist who also lent his talents to bands such as rock giants Rainbow as well as Black Sabbath and it’s fair to say that when Ronnie succumbed to stomach cancer in May 2010, the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal lost one of its most gifted and passionate ambassadors.

This album features former Rough Cutt guitarist Craig Goldy and keyboard player Claude Schnell, additions who certainly make their mark, just listen to Goldy’s guitar solo at the end of the phenomenal ballad All The Fools Sailed Away and his outstanding guitar riff at the beginning of Overlove, as well as some serious shredding during the up-tempo classic Naked In The Rain and the boisterous opening track Night People.

This deluxe edition thankfully doesn't disappoint in terms of sound quality with it being quite apparent that the audio has been enhanced as much as possible to provide a clarity that sometimes gets lost in re-masters. This new 2-CD deluxe edition comes with a bonus disc contains a selection of tracks from the bands triumphant gig at Monsters of Rock in 1987 as well as the single edition of I Could Have Been A Dreamer and Hide in the Rainbow. An expanded booklet with notes by Malcolm Dome endorsed by Ronnie’s widow Wendy makes this the next in line of ultimate Dio reissues. Although the live material is already available on the double-disc set At Donington, UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) if you don’t have already have that album then this Dream Evil deluxe edition is a must even if some of the live bonus tracks aren't played in their entirety.

Overall Dream Evil is a brilliant genre defining album; a mix of passionate and heavy tracks, along with superb musicianship as well as the incredible vocal range and roar of Ronnie. An album that gives you great riffs, fierce melodies, edgy basslines and enables you to take an impressive trip down memory lane.

Order yours from AMAZON .

Tracklisting:

DISC ONE

Night People
Dream Evil
Sunset Superman
All The Fools Sailed Away
Naked In The Rain
Overlove
I Could Have Been A Dreamer
Faces In A Window
When A Woman Cries

DISC TWO

Hide In The Rainbow (Dio EP)
I Could Have Been A Dreamer (Single Edit)
Dream Evil (Donnington - 22/08/87)
Neon Nights
Naked In The Rain
Rock N Roll Children
Long Live Rock N Roll
The Last In Line
Holy Diver
Heaven And Hell
Man On The Silver Mountain
All The Fools Sailed Away
The Last In Line (Reprise)
Rainbow In The Dark

Vertbaudet and the Retro Toy Revival

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:19:19 GMT

Retro Toys:

The lasting favourites and the comeback kings...

What child wouldn't love to be surrounded by toys? All temptingly bright and colourful, all with some unique thrill to offer, and all perfectly attuned to meet their target age group's entertainment needs. The recent UK Toy Fair at London's Olympia served up just that, and the International Toy Fair, that took New York by storm earlier in February, sure elevated toy-lovers to equally exciting heights; but which toys have enjoyed a place in the hearts of children for the longest time? Mother and child brand Vertbaudet took a look at the toys that have endured over the decades - some from right back in the 50's - to retain their popularity in the present day, and asks what makes something that kids loved all those years ago a bestseller to delight their own children today.

One interested visitor to the UK Toy Fair was Professor Jeffrey Goldstein, a psychology expert with the National Toy Council. Professor Goldstein identified a trend among the shiny new toys and dolls: "A lot of retro toys are back," he said, "including the re-furbished Furby and Power Rangers."

While a recent report by the BBC suggested that the prosperity of today's toy market may lie in the fact that parents believe toys that combine educational value with entertainment value are a frugal buy, perhaps retro toys are a popular purchase because parents feel that they too offer something more. Professor Goldstein suggests that, to parents and even grandparents, these toys may represent a link to a simpler time, and they may buy the toys in the hope that they'll provide today's children with some of the fond memories they themselves associate with those toys.

So what are these nostalgia-prompting playthings? Vertbaudet's top picks look back over the decades to reveal all about these timeless toys, including what made them so great and what level of success they've enjoyed in recent years, or, in the case of some toys, what has brought them back from the past and into the toy boxes of kids everywhere?

The first Barbie introduced by Mattel back in 1959 and was an instant success, with more than 350,000 dolls sold in the first year of production. The 1/6^th scale doll was soon joined by boyfriend Ken in 1961 and has subsequently had over 40 pets and numerous accessories, as well as a fair share of controversy over the depiction of women and representation of body image. Despite this, three Barbie’s are still sold every second.

Fun Fact : Barbie's real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

The idea behind Etch A Sketch was simple: two knobs move a stylus which leaves a trail of aluminium powder on the screen, make a picture then shake it up and start again. The 1960 launch was extraordinarily popular and 50 years later the same design has sold 100 million units.

Fun Fact: The Guinness World Record for the largest Etch A Sketch drawing ever made involved the use of 144 of the devices joined together

First released in the late 60s, the Space hopper was all the rage in the 70s. For some kids it was the only way to travel, and you could barely walk down a suburban street without seeing kids bouncing around on the oversized, brightly coloured rubber balloons.

Fun Fact: The 100m record for a man on a Space Hopper is 30.2 seconds.

In 1974, Hungarian Erno Rubik came up with a simple twisting 3D puzzle: a cube made up of smaller cubes with coloured faces in a 3x3x3 design. If you want to understand how popular this toy has been over the years, consider this: there are 43 quintillion different permutations of the coloured squares on a Rubik's cube, yet the current world record for solving the puzzle is 5.66 seconds.

Fun Fact: If you had a Rubik's Cube for every permutation of colour combinations, you could cover the Earth's surface 275 times.

The Game Boy's release was a true landmark for video games. For the first time real games were truly portable, giving kids access to classic puzzle game Tetris and rich characters such as Mario and Zelda wherever they went. Nintendo's first shipment of a million units to North America sold out within weeks, and it has gone on to sell another 117 million units worldwide.

Fun Fact: By 2000, a Game Boy had more computing power than all the technology used to put the first man on the moon

The introduction of the Teksta Robotic Dog gave parents the chance to let their children enjoy the fun of a puppy, without the hassle of having to feed, walk and clean up after it - and you didn't have to let it stick its head of the window on car journeys. The robot could fetch, lick, sniff and howl, but also responded to nurturing; if you treated it well, it would be more affectionate.

Fun Fact: In some ways Teksta was better than a real dog - the robot could do card tricks!

It's a game of scooping up after your dog, and while this may sound bizarre it proved to be a huge hit with kids in 2011. Players feed the Dachshund plasticine 'food' then roll a dice to see how many times they have to pump the lead, and before long the pup poops. Launched across Europe and in the US, it has now sold more than one million units.

Fun Fact: In France, the game is known as Tou Tou Rista and was named Game of the Year for 2011

One of the biggest toys of the 90s, 2012 saw the Furby return with a vengeance, with December demand seeing the critters selling out in many UK stores. The gurgling voice and wiggling ears have been upgraded, and a raft of sensors and LCD eyes make the new Furby even more interactive. What's more, it learns - meaning it will behave differently depending on how you treat it. Enjoying the upgrades that today's advances in technology have provided, including its own smartphone and tablet app, could this be the ultimate retro revival toy?

Fun Fact: The original Furby was banned from the offices of the US National Security Agency, as it was feared that its ability to record conversations and communicate them could compromise state security.

Tipped for 2013! – Symphony in B

A toy which allows kids to conduct their own orchestra - it lets youngsters create their own classical music by placing colourful instruments in an orchestral pit. It is aimed at children as young as three and comes with thirteen different instruments that can be placed in the centre of the plastic pit in different combinations. The Symphony in B has already picked up awards stateside after its launch last year, where it was named the Top Toy of 2012.

By giving children the chance to choose their own way to play, and to create a unique outcome, could this game hold the recipe for lasting success?

Professor Goldstein believes that in many cases, innovation is key to a toy finding a place in the hearts of children who then grow up to buy them for their own children. He provides an example: "I think the Game Boy was one of the first hand-held game-devices and made playing games a mobile and personal thing. It was a real shift."

Perhaps the feeling of being a part of something new is what cements a toy in the heart of a child, thus creating an enduring and happy memory of that toy and the desire to pass on the enjoyment of it to their own children in years to come. Then again, perhaps in spite of all the modern advances out there, the oldies really are the best!

www.vertbaudet.co.uk

New Kids On The Block to Release New Album '10' on 1st April 2013

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:56:53 GMT

UK release April 1^st 2013

www.nkotb.com

New Kids On The Block announce the release of their new album ‘10’, their sixth studio album and the first since The Block which was released on September 2, 2008 and debuted at number 1 pop album on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and peaked at number 16 in the UK.

Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood announced the new record when they appeared on US TV show The View on January 22^nd. After legions of fans crashed RyanSeacrest.com for a first listen on January 25^th, New Kids On The Block released the album’s lead single ‘Remix (I Like The)’ exclusively on iTunes worldwide. NKOTB add to their arsenal with this thumping, guitar infused, sure to be smash single that's already rising on the iTunes Top 20!

Official lyric video:

‘10’ - album track listing:

We Own Tonight

Remix (I Like The)

Take My Breath Away

Wasted On You

Fighting Gravity

Miss You More

The Whisper

Jealous (Blue)

Crash

Back To Life

Now Or Never

Survive You

NKOTB also announced on The View that they will be touring North America this summer with special guests Boys II Men and 98 Degrees. After revealing the exciting news about ‘The Package Tour’, the three multi-platinum-selling groups set out on a day long media blitz stopping by outlets like Access Hollywood, CNN, E!, ET, EXTRA, OMG! Insider, VH1 Big Morning Buzz, US Weekly and Rolling Stone. The tour will play to sold out arenas across North America. Social media has been a buzz ever since the official reveal with no signs of slowing down and #REMIXNKOTB was a trending topic worldwide around this premiere, reaching as high as #2, and #1 in the US.

In 2011 the Boston pop icons joined the Backstreet Boys as part of the historic NKOTBSB Tour which included seven sold out UK arena shows. New Kids On The Block have sold more than 80 million albums worldwide -- including back-to-back international #1 songs, 1988’s Hangin’ Tough and 1990’s Step By Step -- and a series of crossover smash R&B, pop hits like “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” “Cover Girl,” “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” “Hangin’ Tough,” “I’ll Be Loving You,” “Step By Step” and “Tonight.” The group shattered concert box office records playing an estimated 200 concerts a year, in sold out stadiums throughout the world. They still hold many of these records to date.

NASHER SAYS RELAX: Inside The Band And Beyond The Pleasuredome by guitarist Brian Nash

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:33:55 GMT

As a fan of autobiographies I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Nasher Says Relax: Inside The Band And Beyond The Pleasuredome, the story of Liverpool act Frankie Goes To Hollywood by lead guitarist Brian ‘Nasher’ Nash and it certainly didn’t disappoint!

Frankie Goes to Hollywood ambled onto the music scene towards the end of 1983 before kicking the door wide open a few months later in 1984 with their debut chart topper Relax, going onto world domination and becoming only the second act in the history of the UK charts to reach number one with their first three singles; Relax, Two Tribes and Power of Love. Their record breaking music and the FRANKIE SAYS message has proved timeless, crossing many generations with no signs of slowing down yet. With plenty of rumours and mystery still surrounding the five piece band, their split and conflict with certain record labels within the music industry as well as trouble within the group their history has created intrigue and a yearning to know the truth behind one of the biggest and best 80's bands out there. Lead singer Holly Johnson brought out his own autobiography in the early 90's but now it’s time to hear the other side to that story and go backstage on the Frankie rollercoaster whilst laying some things to rest.

So here we have the tale of how a young lad from Liverpool ended up on the musical expressway, becoming part of British music history and when the ride with FGTH suddenly stopped how he never gave up, showing us how his glass is always ‘Half Full’. What Nasher gives us is a well written and humble account of his life so far, the integrity with which he portrays throughout is refreshing, gripping and what makes this, in my opinion, one of the best bios I have come across and a must read for any Frankie fan. Full to the brim with anecdotes of ‘the lads’ on the road, what life was like before, during and after the rise and fall of this great 80's band, stories of conflict with record label ZTT which inevitably led to the downfall and a legal struggle that’s lasted many many years, tales of dynamics within the group and how the groups end was maybe in sight long before the actual demise, the joy of being a superstar interspersed with some hilarious recollections of what ‘the lads’ got up to, not forgetting some wonderfully poignant memories of Nasher’s family as well as life after FGTH, the ups and downs and how his solo ride is still ongoing.

Nasher manages to capture your interest from the first page and from then on you are hooked, an informative tale that will no doubt raise some eyebrows when you realise the truth behind the band as well as the music industry, a story that will have you laughing out loud as well as wiping away a tear or two when Nasher recounts family memories. One that also gives you a great insight into the undoubtedly hard work that has gone into creating his solo projects and explains why he didn’t join the FGTH reunion in 2003/4.

I’m sure there are plenty of stories that didn’t make Nasher Says Relax but what has been printed surely blows the lid off the FGTH tale. Overall I have an untold amount of respect for Brian Nash not only for his optimistic outlook on life but for the way he comes across as a relatable ‘normal’ down to earth guy who has lived a dream and overcome the pitfalls of that success, someone who writes with an incredible modesty and authenticity. An exceptional and gratifying autobiography, full of laughs, sadness and diplomacy, one that deserves a place on all bookshelves whether you are an ardent Frankie fan or not.

To get your copy over at Amazon click here.

To read our interview with the man himself then please click here.

Review written by Carli Davies

www.everything80s.co.uk

JULIAN COPE: SAINT JULIAN THE DELUXE EDITION

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:48:16 GMT

After his group The Teardrop Explodes disbanded and his initial two solo albums Cope released his first album for Island Records and his most commercially successful in 1987: Saint Julian, after an image overhaul where he cut his hair and embraced the Rock God persona. Cope put together a new backing group for this album, lead guitarist Donald Ross Skinner, drummer Chris Whitten and James Eller with himself on vocals, rhythm guitar as well as playing the keyboards under the alias of Double DeHarrison. Now fast forward 26 years and the album is being re-released as a 2 disc deluxe version which contains all B-side and remixes which have been sequenced by Julian himself, including notes by Ian Harrison as well as updated art. This album songs abandoned the collapsing psychedelic styles of his previous endeavour Fried in favour of a crisp, punchier and more structured sound, drawing partially on Cope’s professed love for Detroit heavy rock acts such as early Alice Cooper. With early sessions being supervised by Ramones producer Ed Stasium and delivering tracks World Shut Your Mouth, Pulsar and Spacehopper you know you are in for a great time.

Disc 1: Saint Julian kicks off with the pop rock sounds of Trampoline with its catchy chorus engaging your ears whilst taking us to the second track, a favourite of Everything80s, the toe tapping Shot Down with its unmistakable melody and great musical arrangement. There is a great variety of songs on this album from the post punk sounding Pulsar to the New Wave feel of Eve's Volcano, the funky tones of the guitar driven Planet Ride including the head banging riffs of Spacehopper (a track that dated back to late 1970s writing sessions with Ian McCulloch) to the final album track the lengthy 8 minute Crack In The Clouds, a dramatic theatrical instalment with an otherworldly feel which ends the album on a high. Overall an album full of well composed memorable songs which also includes Cope’s biggest solo hit, the fantastic up-tempo pop track that still packs a lyrical and melodic punch today World Shut Your Mouth which reached No.19 in the UK in 1986, becoming his only Top 20 solo hit. Several songs on Saint Julian originated from much earlier than the others including Screaming Secrets which had been a Teardrop Explodes song which never made it to album.

Disc 2 is the gem that features the B-sides and ambitious remixes especially of singles World Shut Your Mouth, Trampoline and Eve’s Volcano, with the extension of the tracks adding just enough to keep the Cope fan satisfied, as well as the captivating downhearted sounds of Mock Turtle and the addictive rock sound of opening song I’ve Got Levitation.

Overall a great edition and although Cope has stated that it is not one of his favourite albums I dare say there is a reason why it was his most successful, with great musical production, raw energy, inspiring lyrics and moving melodies there is plenty to get your teeth into. A must for the Julian Cope fan.

Saint Julian The Deluxe Edition will be available from the 4th February 2013, you can Pre Order your copy here.

Saint Julian Deluxe Edition

Tracklisting: Disc 1

01. Trampoline

02. Shot Down

03. Eve’s Volcano

04. Spacehopper

05. Planet Ride

06. World Shut Your Mouth

07. Saint Julian

08. Pulsar

09. Screaming Secrets

10. A Crack in the Clouds

Tracklisting: Disc 2

01. I’ve Got Levitation

02. Umpteenth Unnatural Blues

03. Disaster

04. Warwick the Kingmaker

05. Non-Alignment Pact

06. Mock Turtle

07. Almost Beautiful Child (I & II)

08. Transporting

09. Trampoline Warne Out Mix

10. World Shut Your Mouth Trouble Funk Mix

11. Pulsar Nx Live

12. Shot Down Live

13. Eve’s Volcano (Covered in Sin)/Vulcano Lungo 12″ Remix

14. Spacehopper – Annexe

The Hit Factory Live: Concert Review

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 18:50:01 GMT

Where do you start when something was so outrageously incredible and meant so much to you especially after the initial heart-breaking disappointment of July’s cancellation? I’m finding it impossible to put into words how amazing The Hit Factory Live was, I’m not here to critique individual performances as you are always going to enjoy some more than others and opinions will always differ when so many amazing acts are involved but I think it’s fair to say that from the fist thumping opening act 2 Unlimited you knew you were in for one hell of a 3 ½ hour ride through the recess of your mind, a surreal evening filled with memories, nostalgia and FUN. A night of two halves with a small 10 minute interval breaking up the overwhelming spectacle that was happening on stage.

The enormous crowd (it was a sell-out) were up on their feet for the entire show, singing, dancing and generally having a ball, making new friends as well as celebrating with old ones. With each act came anticipation; would they do their own songs justice? Will they be as good as they were back in the day? The answer is a resounding YES, they delivered each song with gusto, passion and an excitement that was akin to the audiences. From the wonderful Lonnie Gordon, to the comperes Pat and Mick who quite frankly made my night by singing a medley of their top charity hits (put it this way I Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet…), you also had great performances from Sonia and Sinitta (they haven’t aged a bit) with Sintta’s backing dancers getting everyone a bit hot under the collar *swoon* as well as the captivating Nathan Moore from Brother Beyond and the amazing Hazell Dean, boy can she belt out a tune or two, incredible! We also saw in the first half the fantastic Pepsi and Shirlie as well as Princess who we can safely say is still a lot of people’s number one! Pete Waterman made an appearance now and then as did Gaby Roslin who hosted the poptastic event along with Pat Sharp and Mick Brown. Towards the end of the first act Pete sincerely introduced his newest act James Graham who led the tribute to the late Donna Summer with a phenomenal rendition of ‘Love’s About To Change My Heart’, he reminded me of a young Rick Astley and to think this kid is only 16 years old blows my mind, what a voice, I’m sure we will be seeing a lot of him in the future! The first act ended with the pop spectacular from the one and only Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) who took us to the dark side with his gothic enactment, a megamix of his hits ending with You Spin Me Round, it was sheer brilliance.

Lonnie Gordon Performing Happenin' All Over Again

Sinitta Performing Toy Boy

Pete Burns (Dead or Alive)

During the interval it was a chance for my brain to start digesting what we had already seen and to be honest I cannot express the feeling of my overpowering emotions, it felt surreal and dreamlike but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to be feeling that way. We were treated to tracks from the pop icons Mel & Kim, Divine and Donna Summer a nice touch to know that they might not have been there in person but they certainly weren’t forgotten.

It was time for the second half and with the crowd reaching a fever pitch this half was about to push the temperature through the roof, with the incredible and funny Rick Astley (who has matured like a fine wine) on first giving us one hell of a treat with his knock out tunes along with the crowd showing him that they were certainly Never Gonna Give Him Up, then you had Bananarama (minus Siobhan) whose five hit medley went down a storm, these girls have definitely still got it and next was the man, the legend himself Mr Jason Donovan, the audience was deafening and let’s face it we all knew what was coming soon: The DUET! But before Kylie joined him on stage STEPS were up next and I think you could see that they were surprised by the reaction they received which was just amazing, there were more than a few STEPS dance moves being thrown and I have to say they were just exceptional; fun, polished and professional.

The suave Mr Rick Astley

Mr Jason Donovan

STEPS

OK so STEPS had left the stage and the atmosphere in the O2 is one that even thinking about now gives me goosebumps, you could feel the excitement and expectation of the upcoming act, the eagerness of the audience was apparent and maybe there were nerves that it wouldn’t live up to expectations. Well let me tell you, I maybe bias (I was wearing a Kylie and Jason T-shirt after all) but THE duet of all duets was mind blowing, yes I cried, I’m not ashamed to admit it by that point my emotions had hit a crescendo, it was worth waiting all these years for and when they did the SPIN, yes just like in the original video the crowd went literally bonkers! The lyrics to Especially For You must have rung around London during the performance, everyone was lost in the moment, a childhood dream, a surreal event that you never thought you would see, it was really happening and there are no words that can describe what it did to me as a fan and seeing Kylie jump up and down with excitement afterwards shows that the artists that night felt just as much as us watching. It still brings a lump to my throat and combined with the overall evening it was just an absolute honour to have been there. The show ended with STEPS rendition of Merry Christmas Everybody with all acts appearing on stage as fake snow fell, alongside the three giant Christmas trees that had lit up the stage all night, this was unquestionably one hell of a Christmas Cracker.

Kylie & Jason performing Especially For You

Overall this is one concert that I will forever hold dear, it was a roadshow for us lifelong fans whose passion and love for the music has never died, yes some people may not get it but I do and for that I am truly grateful. Thanks Mr Pete Waterman for answering many a Christmas Wish and the utmost respect also to Matt Stock and Mike Aitken who are the ones responsible for giving us the undeniable sound of SAW.

Verdict: The Hit Factory Live literally blew the roof off the O2.

Full Setlist:

2 UNLIMITED
Medley: Get Ready For This / Twilight Zone / Tribal Dance
No Limit

LONNIE GORDON
Happenin’ All Over Again

PAT & MICK
Megamix: Let's All Chant / Use It Up And Wear It Out / I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet

HAZELL DEAN
Who’s Leaving Who?
Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)

BROTHER BEYOND
The Harder I Try

SONIA
Megamix: Can’t Forget You / Counting Every Minute / Listen To Your Heart
You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You

PEPSI & SHIRLIE
Heartache

SINITTA
Megamix: Cross My Broken Heart / Right Back Where We Started From
Toy Boy

JAMES GRAHAM
Love’s About To Change My Heart
I’ll Always Be There

PRINCESS
After The Love Has Gone
Say I’m Your Number One

DEAD OR ALIVE
Megamix: My Heart Goes Bang / Lover Come Back (To Me) / Brand New Lover / Something In My House
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)

Interval Mix:

Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind [Remix]
Mel & Kim - Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)
Edwin Starr - Whatever Makes Our Love Grow
Mel & Kim - That's The Way It Is
Donna Summer - This Time I Know It's For Real
Donna Summer - I Don't Wanna Get Hurt
Laura Branigan - Shattered Glass
Mel & Kim - F.L.M.
Mel & Kim - Respectable
Divine - I'm So Beautiful
Sandra - Everlasting Love [Remix]

SECOND HALF:

RICK ASTLEY
Together Forever
She Wants To Dance With Me
When I Fall In Love
Whenever You Need Somebody
Never Gonna Give You Up

BANANARAMA
Nathan Jones
I Heard A Rumour
I Want You Back
Venus
Love In The First Degree

JASON DONOVAN
When You Come Back To Me
Every Day (I Love You More)
Nothing Can Divide Us
Too Many Broken Hearts

STEPS
Deeper Shade Of Blue
Last Thing On My Mind
One For Sorrow
Stomp
Tragedy

KYLIE & JASON
Especially For You

STEPS & ENSEMBLE
Merry Christmas Everybody

Carli xoxo

www.everything80s.co.uk