4.30.2017

THE GODFATHER I AND II CAST 45TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBECA FILM FEST REUNION!


USA TODAY Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Talia Shire, Robert DeNiro, Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino take a bow onstage during the panel for The Godfather 45th Anniversary Screening during 2017 Tribeca Film Festival closing night at Radio City Music Hall on April 29, 2017 in New York City.


With the stage decorated to resemble the library of Brando's Don Corleone, and a portrait of the actor hanging above, Coppola and cast members Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire, gathered together once again on Saturday.




The night was organized by De Niro as the closing evening of his Tribeca Film Festival, which preceded the affair with a grand double feature of The Godfather,Parts I and II.

CHINA GLAZE SUMMER REIGN COLORS COLLECTION FOR 2017


This summer, China Glaze has saved you a deckside seat for the Summer Reign collection--12 hot, hot saturated hues inspired by the blazing colors of a seaside sunset.

All 12 Summer Reign collection shades will be available at Sally Beauty and ULTA.com for summer 2017.


HOW MAGNESIUM HELPS SOLVE ANXIETY DEPRESSION AND INSOMNIA!


By Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD

It Can Help Your Body and Brain Relax

Human Brain on White Background
In order to fall asleep and stay asleep, your body and brain need to relax.

On a chemical level, magnesium aids this process by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for getting you calm and relaxed (6).

First, magnesium regulates neurotransmitters, which send signals throughout the nervous system and brain.

It also regulates the hormone melatonin, which guides sleep-wake cycles in your body.

Second, this mineral binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. GABA is the neurotransmitter responsible for quieting down nerve activity. It is the same neurotransmitter used by sleep drugs like Ambien.

By helping to quiet the nervous system, magnesium may help prepare your body and mind for sleep.

Summary: Magnesium helps activate neurotransmitters that are responsible for calming the body and the mind.


8 Ways Magnesium Relieves Anxiety and Stress

Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral that is so good for anxiety and stress that it’s been called “nature’s Valium” and “the original chill pill.”

Magnesium is necessary in over 600 metabolic functions, yet it is the second most common nutritional deficiency in developed countries. Over the past 50 years, magnesium intake has plummeted while rates of anxiety have skyrocketed.

This may not be a coincidence.

The correlation between magnesium and anxiety is so strong that researchers can intentionally induce anxiety in lab animals by depriving them of magnesium.

VIOLINIST JEAN LUC PONTY TO PERFORM IN DETROIT CHENE PARK JUNE 21


Legendary French Violinist Jean Luc Ponty To Tour The US Summer 2017!

Los Angeles - Legendary French violinist Jean Luc Ponty and his band will be bringing their “Atlantic Years” tour to the US beginning late May 2017! Jean Luc Ponty is a pioneer and undisputed master of the violin in the arena of jazz and rock. He is widely regarded as an innovator who has applied his unique visionary spin that has expanded the vocabulary of modern music.

Says Jean Luc, “We're calling it 'The Atlantic Years' tour since I am touring with my band from the late 70's - 80's with whom I recorded several albums for Atlantic Records.”

The Jean Luc Ponty Band features:

Jean Luc Ponty – violin
Wally Minko – keyboards
Jamie Glaser – guitars
Rayford Griffin – drums
Baron Browne – bass

Jean Luc Ponty Band 2017 US tour dates:

May 30 – Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
May 31 – Seattle, WA - The Neptune
June 01 – Eugene, OR - John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts
June 02 – Los Angeles, CA - The Saban Theater Beverly Hills
June 04 – San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
June 05 – Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre
June 07 – San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
June 08 – Agoura Hills, CA - The Canyon Club
June 09 – Scottsdale, AZ - Center For the Arts
June 10 – Las Vegas, NV - Allante Casino
June 13 – Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
June 16 – Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
June 17 – Austin, TX - One World Theatre
June 19 – Chicago, IL - City Winery
June 20 – Chicago, IL - City Winery
June 21 – Detroit, MI - Chene Park
June 23 – Niagara Falls, NY - Seneca Niagara Casino
June 24 – Saratoga Springs, NY - Performing Arts Center
June 25 – NYC - B.B. King

After studying classical violin at the Paris Conservatory, Jean Luc Ponty turned to jazz in the 60's. Thanks to his revolutionary style he collaborated with some of the best European and American musicians such as Eddy Louiss, Daniel Humair, Niels Henning-Ørsted Pedersen, John Lewis, Lalo Schifrin, and Quincy Jones.

He became the first bebop violinist and US jazz magazine “Down Beat” created a violin category for him in its critics' poll, until then violin was in the 'miscellaneous instruments' category. His pioneering work on the electric violin in the 70's attracted the attention of pop and rock musicians, he recorded with Elton John and participated to several tours and legendary recordings with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra.



In 1975 he founded his own band and became one of the most prominent figures of the jazz-fusion movement in the USA, selling millions of albums that all reached the top of the US charts. Ponty's most recent album “The Atacama Experience” is considered as one if his best and to this day Ponty keeps touring with his band around the world.

Ponty also collaborates on occasional projects such as “The Rite of Strings” with Stanley Clarke and Al Di Meola. In 2011 Ponty joined the mythical American group RETURN TO FOREVER IV with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Frank Gambale for a world tour spanning on 5 continents.

Ponty received the 2007 Jazz Trophy in Germany, the medal of Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur in France in 2009, the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Awards in Ireland, and the Grand Prix of the Sochi Arts Festival in 2012 in Russia from the hands of world famous classical violist and orchestra conductor Yuri Bashmet.

In 2012 Ponty performed his music with Orchestre Pasdeloup for his 50-year career celebration at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, then again with symphony orchestras in Brazil, Russia and Hungary in 2012 and 2013.

In April 2013 Herbie Hancock invited him to perform in Istanbul at “International Jazz Day” for UNESCO. Ponty also founded a new quartet with his daughter, pianist-singer-composer Clara Ponty which performed in France and Germany in 2014. Ponty also performed with the 89 musicians of the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orcherstra for the Siberian Christmas Festival.

In 2014 Ponty recorded an album as an acoustic trio with Stanley Clarke on double bass and Gypsy-French guitarist Bireli Lagrene, which was released on Impulse/Universal in the Fall 2015.

Jean Luc recently formed the Anderson Ponty Band with Jon Anderson, co-founder and lead singer of British progressive rock band YES, a CD and DVD was released in 2015 followed by a North American concert tour.


The Band:

Baron Browne (bass) was born and raised in Georgia, USA, and gravitated to music at a very early age, learning to play his uncle's drumset at 7 years old. At age 18, Baron moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. He began working full time with Berklee alum such as Kevin Eubanks, Tiger Okoshi, Mike Stern, Bill Frisell and Dean Brown.

In 1983 Jean Luc Ponty called Baron to audition, and hired him immediately. Baron toured with Ponty for 3 years and collaborated to 3 albums. Since then Baron has toured worldwide and recorded with Billy Cobham, Steps Ahead, jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton, and recorded many albums with Walter Beasley. His versatility allowed him to also perform with R&B and Pop artists such as Brian McKnight, Tom Jones and Expose'. Baron also writes and performs regularly with Vital Information.

Jamie Glaser (guitar) is best known as the guitarist for grammy award winning musical acts, Jean Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Bryan Adams, Gloria Trevi, Manhattan Transfer and more. His guitar can be heard on over 170 albums as well as on the biggest sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld and Married With Children. Jamie compositions can be heard weekly on CBS sports, ABC, Animal Planet, History channel, Discovery, and ESPN. His solo albums have been successful worldwide.

Rayford Griffin (drums) has been internationally respected as among the most inventive, volcanic and versatile drummers in music, having amassed stellar credits with virtuosos ranging from Jean Luc Ponty and The Stanley Clarke Band, George Duke, to Dave Koz, Anita Baker and Michael Jackson.

Wally Minko (keyboards) is a well respected and highly accomplished member of the LA music scene and has toured and recorded with some of the most well known and successful artists in the world! Some of the artists Wally has worked with include Toni Braxton, Pink, En Vogue, New Edition, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Arturo Sandoval, Gregg Rolie (Santana/Journey), Eddie Money and the Anderson Ponty Band, featuring legendary Yes vocalist, Jon Anderson and world renowned jazz violinist, Jean Luc Ponty.

DETROIT SOUND CONSERVANCY 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY WITH TOSHA OWENS!

Tosha Owens with DSC Executive Director Carleton S. Gholz, PhD


The Detroit Sound Conservancy’s 5 year anniversary 
 Ferndale’s newest restaurant and performance venue Otus Supply.
Story by Tosha Owens

The Detroit Sound Conservancy (DSC) is an organization headed by Executive Director Carleton S. Gholz, PhD and made up of about 30 musicians that strives to preserve the music history of Detroit. 


They were established in 2012 and have since rallied to save the historic United Sound Recording Studio by making it a historical marker in 2015 and they are also responsible for rebuilding Veridian Sound Stage of the historical jazz club The Blue Bird Inn.


The stage has been shipped to France for this year’s Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Etienne festival. As far as I know, this is the only organization of its kind here in the D.


The event was well attended by many musicians and supporters and I got to catch up with friends. The Otus Supply is a great venue for dining or entertaining. They did it right with four different rooms in the ‘hollow rooms’ to dine in and a separate room, The Parliament Room, for live entertainment. Good job! Tosha Owens

Great work thank you so much Tosha and Jane!!


THE GILDED AGE: RICH MAN POOR MAN 1866-1900


The term for this period came into use in the 1920s and 1930s and was derived from writer Mark Twain's 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized an era of serious social problems masked by a thin gold gilding.


The Breakers, a Gilded Age mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, belonging to the wealthy Vanderbilt family of railroad industry tycoons.



The Gilded Age was an era of rapid economic growth, especially in the North and West. As American wages were much higher than those in Europe, especially for skilled workers, the period saw an influx of millions of European immigrants. 


The rapid expansion of industrialization led to real wage growth of 60% between 1860 and 1890, spread across the ever-increasing labor force. The average annual wage per industrial worker (including men, women and children) rose from $380 in 1880 to $564 in 1890, a gain of 48%. 


Above: Life in The Gilded Age -1900 - The "Easter Parade" on 5th Avenue, New York City - The Easter Parade was an American cultural event consisting of a festive strolling procession on Easter Sunday. The extraordinarily wealthy paraded fashionable clothing and strove to impress each other with their finery.


However, the Gilded Age was also an era of abject poverty and inequality as millions of immigrants—many from impoverished European nations—poured into the United States, and the high concentration of wealth became more visible and contentious.


THE WORLD: A JOYFUL DAY


Embrace now as a joyful day. At the start, look in the mirror and see the joy that's already in your eyes. Work with contentment, spend quality time with friends and family, and share your love of life with every stranger you meet. You don't have to be overbearing and surprise people with your happiness. What you truly feel will shine on its own. The little things may bring you the most joy.


4.26.2017

RECORD STORE DAY 2017 TOSHA OWENS AT FOUND SOUND FERNDALE

Miss Tosha Owens

It was a great Record Store Day yesterday at Found Sound in Ferndale, Michigan. We called Richard at the store and asked him if he would like Miss Tosha Owens and her friend Photographer Jane Cassisi to come shoot some photos to celebrate Record Store Day.

Found Sound is Tosha's favorite Record Store and that is how we chose them to profile today.



Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday every April to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fans, artists, and thousands of independent record stores across the world. Click to Find out More


From Tosha:

We couldn’t have had a more beautiful day for Record Store Day this year. The weather was perfect, the fans were out and the vibe was just right so, of course, the Found Sound record store was the perfect place to be.

Tosha and Richard from Found Sound

From the moment you walk in, that old familiar smell of vinyl and album jackets hits you and takes you back to an amazing time in music. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the experience, the music and the amazing staff.


It was really a heart warming moment to see parents educating their children on our ‘record store’ culture. I love Found Sound because you are not just a customer when you shop there. You’re part of the experience. And that’s special. -TO





FOUND SOUND
234 W 9 Mile Rd
Ferndale, Michigan
Call (248) 565-8775
FOUND SOUND FACEBOOK

MANY THANKS TO TOSHA AND JANE FOR REPORTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY!

HAVE MERCY! THE JOHN STAMOS ART SHOW


A group art show celebrating the magic of John Stamos.

Riot Fest is proud to announce HAVE MERCY! The John Stamos Art Show. The walls will be covered with paintings, drawings and sketches in tribute to one of our favorite humans: The stunning, inspiring and legendary actor/musician John Phillip Stamos. It promises to be the greatest art event ever in the history of the world!

We are putting a call out to the Riot Fest community to tap into the inspiration that Mr. Stamos has shared with all of us, and to channel it onto the canvas. The result of which will be, by all accounts, the largest collection of John Stamos-inspired artwork under one roof.

We here at Riot Fest have been paying tribute to Mr. Stamos since our 2013 festival, where we proudly commissioned and displayed a life-size bust of the man using nothing but butter and love and more butter.  Read this article

While many of you got to know the actor John Stamos in the late-1900s as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital or were moved by his star-making turn as Uncle Jesse Katsopolis on Full House, many have just recently discovered his talents through roles on E.R. and Scream Queens.

The musician John Stamos has been a drummer since the age of four and has rocked out in several bands, including Blackie & The Riff Raff, The Beach Boys, and the Riot Fest booking department’s perpetual white whale, Jesse &The Rippers.


The Opening Night Gala will be at Cobra Lounge on July 14th and the show will run until July 16th.

There will be a second showing of the John Stamos art at this year’s Riot Fest & Carnival from September 15th-17th. The artwork will be auctioned or sold with all proceeds benefiting the charity of John Stamos’ choice.

A panel of celebrity judges will be evaluating the art and awarding prizes for the best John Stamos art. Our esteemed celebrity judges will include our friends Danette Chavez and Gwen Ihnat from The A.V. Club, Nihilist Arby’s, Riot Fest Twitter, Anna Cerniglia from Johalla Projects, and a very special surprise guest...

The Grand Prize First Place Best In Show winner will receive two (2) VIP passes to Riot Fest and the DVD box set of Full House. The second place winner will receive two (2) GA tickets to Riot Fest. Third place will receive one (1) GA ticket to Riot Fest.

Artwork submissions are open to anyone. Artwork will be accepted through July 7th, 2017. For more information, please see below or visit www.riotfest.org/johnstamos

CALL FOR ARTISTS:

- Deadline for Art Delivery - July 7th, 2017.
- Art can be mailed to Riot Fest, 1658 N. Milwaukee Ave #125, Chicago, IL 60647
- Only art submissions 11”x14” and smaller will be accepted
- All packages must be less than 50lbs and less than 20”x20”
- Art must be delivered framed and/or ready to hang.
- All pieces must be labeled with name, title of artwork, media, email address, phone number and an estimated price.
- Artwork will NOT be returned. All pieces will be sold at auction, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the charity of John Stamos’ choice.

*NEW* DAVID BOWIE AND TREVOR JONES’ ICONIC LABYRINTH SOUNDTRACK RELEASE


Los Angeles – April 26, 2017 – Extending the 30th anniversary celebration of the beloved film, Labyrinth, Jim Henson’s mesmerizing and enduring fantasy classic, David Bowie and Trevor Jones’ iconic soundtrack will be remastered and reissued on vinyl on May 12 for the first time since its original 1986 release.

Long out of print, the album, which was remastered at Capitol Studios, will be available on high quality 120gm black vinyl and include the faithfully replicated original jacket and artwork, including the original EMI America logo and the printed inner sleeve featuring photos of Bowie from the film. Pre-Order below:



Praised by film critics and moviegoers alike for its astonishing imagery and distinct characters, Labyrinth has been celebrated for being wildly ahead of its time. Directed by Jim Henson and executive produced by George Lucas, the film, which stars David Bowie as Jareth, The Goblin King, is full of memorable creatures brought to life by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, working closely with acclaimed artist and conceptual designer Brian Froud.



In a 1986 interview with Movieline, Bowie recalled his first meeting with Henson to discuss the film: "Jim Henson set up a meeting with me while I was doing my 1983 tour in the States, and he outlined the basic concept for Labyrinth and showed me some of Brian Froud's artwork. I'd always wanted to be involved in the music-writing aspect of a movie that would appeal to children of all ages, as well as everyone else, and I must say that Jim gave me a completely free hand with it. The script itself was terribly amusing without being vicious or spiteful or bloody, and it also had a lot more heart than many other special effects movies. So I was pretty well hooked from the beginning.”

Described by The Atlantic as “101 minutes of Bowie rock opera and Hensonian spectacle,” Labyrinth was the second major soundtrack that Bowie worked on, falling between his 16th and 17th studio albums, Tonight and Never Let Me Down. He wrote and recorded five original songs for the film, including "Underground,” “As The World Falls Down” and “Magic Dance” with its famous oft-repeated opening: “You remind me of the babe/What babe?



The babe with the power/What power? The power of voodoo/Who do? You do/Do what? Remind me of the babe.” All songs were performed by Bowie except “Chilly Down” which was sung by Charles Augins, Richard Bodkin, Kevin Clash, and Danny John-Jules, the actors who voiced the ‘Firey' creatures in the film.

In the aforementioned interview with Movieline around the film and soundtrack’s release, Bowie revealed an obstacle he encountered while recording. “With ‘Dance Magic’ - the song for Jareth and the baby, sung by them and the goblins in the castle throne room - I had problems,” Bowie explained. “The baby I used in the recording studios couldn’t, or wouldn’t, put more than two gurgles together, so I ended up doing the baby-gurgle chorus myself! It’s an up-tempo song, and visually exciting.”



The 12-track soundtrack is rounded out with Trevor Jones’ memorable score. The synth-based instrumentals, described by All Music Guide as “synthesizers blended cautiously into orchestral ensembles to provide a suitably ethereal tone,” represent pivotal moments from the film and include “Into the Labyrinth,” “Sarah” “Hallucination,” “The Goblin Battle,” “Thirteen O'Clock” and “Home at Last.” Jones and Henson previously worked together on the live action fantasy classic, “The Dark Crystal.”

Labyrinth celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and the film and soundtrack have only grown in popularity since its release on June 27, 1986. Last year, a newly restored 4K version of the movie was released back in theaters with a limited engagement theatrical run in the United States giving fans the opportunity to see it back on the big screen.

On September 20th, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the film on Blu-ray, next-generation 4K Ultra HD™, and as a multi-format 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition complete with unique “mirrorbox” packaging that included a mini replica of the film’s climactic and iconic final scene. All versions include a host of all-new bonus content and a gorgeous 24-page Digibook filled with rare photos and a look behind the scenes.

LABYRINTH OST TRACK LISTING

SIDE 1
1. Opening Titles Including Underground
2. Into The Labyrinth
3. Magic Dance
4. Sarah
5. Chilly Down
6. Hallucination

SIDE 2
1. As The World Falls Down
2. The Goblin Battle
3. Within You
4. Thirteen O’Clock
5. Home At Last
6. Underground

4.23.2017

INTRODUCING ALEXA VILLA!



Alexa Villa is a multi-talented singer-songwriter/musician, highlighting her talent at piano/synth in each track of the EP. Artfully blending and fusing together rock, pop and grunge, Alexa Villa relentlessly liberates the confines of both genres and flawlessly creates a sound that is both unique, eclectic and a bit quirky.

Beginning her career at the age of 7 when she started taking piano lessons and performing at her school talent shows and local recitals. At 16, Alexa started her own band, Oversoul, with her older brother where together, they played live shows all throughout Southern California and was part of The Van’s Warped Tour line-up.

Website: https://alexamusicnow.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theAlexaVilla
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theAlexaVilla
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theAlexaVilla
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/alexa-music

RICK WAKEMAN LAUNCHES PRE-SALE CAMPAIGN ON PLEDGE MUSIC


Rick Wakeman Launches Pre-Sale Campaign on PledgeMusic For “Crimes of Passion” Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set

London - Keyboard legend Rick Wakeman has launched a pre-sale campaign on PledgeMusic for a very special limited edition Deluxe Box Set of his soundtrack “Crime of Passion”.

Originally released in 1984 “Crimes of Passion” was directed by Ken Russell and starred Kathleen Turner, Anthony Perkins, John Laughlin and Annie Potts. The film explores themes of human relationships and mental illness. A mix of sex and suspense.

“Working with Ken Russell was not only a highlight in my musical life but also a great learning time for me as well….Ken truly understood film and film music like no other. He knew what he wanted, but after telling you then expected you to take his ideas to another level.

“He was always involved and came to stay with me during my writing period. He would listen and make suggestions. He would always be complimentary if you did something he really liked and if he felt something wasn’t working musically he would discuss it with you and explain what he needed for the film.


“I learned so much from Ken and to this day I feel it is a tragedy that in his later years film companies didn’t give him more opportunities to show off his talents.


“ 'Crimes of Passion' is a much deeper film than it has ever been given credit for. It took many years before 'Lisztomania' became cult and recognised for the clever film it was and I class 'Crimes of Passion' in a similar way…

“With every film Ken ever made the viewer and listener has to immerse themselves into every crevice of the work and may take multiple viewings before his genius is truly absorbed.” - Rick Wakeman, New York April 2017

There will only be 250 of this deluxe edition manufactured and each will contain a signed and numbered certificate. There will also be additional signed items and exclusive experiences as part of this pre-order campaign.

Box Set Content:
CD
DVD/BluRay
Signed / numbered Certificate
8 x Repro Lobby Cards A6
Repro Japanese Press Pack
A3 Repro poster
Repro Press Release

Release date 2nd June 2017

For more information and to pre-order please visit this PledgeMusic link:
http://www.pledgemusic.com/pro jects/rick-wakeman-crimes-of-p assion

About PledgeMusic:
PledgeMusic is the leading global direct-to-fan platform dedicated to empowering artists, labels and brands to build communities, fund and pre-sell recordings, and provide unique experiences and exclusives throughout the entire music production and promotion lifecycle. PledgeMusic was named as one of The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Music for “Helping artists and fans get what they want”. – Fast Company

Rick Wakeman's official website: http://www.rwcc.com
(Catch Rick on tour with YES Featuring Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman - http://www.yesfeaturingarw.c om/)

1980 DIANA ROSS ALBUM, DIANA ORIGINAL CHIC MIX NOW ON VINYL!


LEGENDARY 1980 DIANA ROSS ALBUM, DIANA – 
THE ORIGINAL CHIC MIX, 
GETS ITS FIRST-EVER VINYL RELEASE, 
ON TWO-45rpm DISCS, AVAILABLE NOW

Rare Tracks Previously Appeared On 2003 diana: deluxe edition CD release

Los Angeles, CA – April 21, 2017 – Sought after by collectors and considered the rarest of Motown’s rare grooves, Diana Ross’ diana – the original CHIC mix, will make its long-awaited debut on vinyl on April 21, on Motown/UMe/UMGI, with a twist: it will be a double-LP set on pink vinyl at 45rpm for maximum fidelity. This edition of diana includes alternate-mix versions of such classics as “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out,” as envisioned by Chic’s Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards.

Following 1979’s collaboration with Ashford & Simpson, which produced her hit “The Boss,” Diana Ross sought a new sound and hired the hot Chic team of Rodgers and Edwards to compose, play on and produce her next release. But she and Motown were dissatisfied with the too-Chic-like results, a feeling supported by influential disc jockey Frankie Crocker, who warned Ross the record might fall prey to the disco backlash at the time. Ross turned to Motown’s house engineer, Russ Terrana, the man behind her Supremes and solo hits and much more, and he proceeded to remix the entire album, using alternate vocals or placing her vocals more upfront, creating overall a smoother, “commercial” mix. “Our concept was to make it more avant-garde,” Nile Rodgers later told writer Brian Chin, “and their concept was to make it a little bit more accessible.” The revised diana, her tenth studio album, was released – with a striking, now iconic cover image – on May 22, 1980.


Rodgers and Edwards were not informed and, protesting publicly, wished to take their names off the record. But they cooled off and saw “Upside Down” – Ross’ own description to Rodgers and Edwards as to what she wanted to do to her career – emerge a #1 smash hit.

Subsequent singles included “I’m Coming Out,” which went to #5 in the U.S. and became a LGBTQ anthem, while “My Old Piano,” was a Top 5 hit in the U.K. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200, selling nine million albums worldwide. Soon after Ross moved on to RCA Records in a then-record $20 million deal before returning to Motown in 1989.

Fans now get to hear for the first time on vinyl those original Chic mixes of diana, one of four albums the duo of Rodgers and Edwards produced that year, including Sister Sledge’s Love Somebody Today, Sheila and B. Devotion’s King of the World and their own studio album, Real People. Available on two pink vinyl 45rpm discs, diana – the original CHIC mix, incorporates tracks first heard on diana: deluxe edition, originally issued July 29, 2003.

diana – the original CHIC mix vinyl track listing

Side One
1. “Upside Down”
2. “Tenderness”

Side Two
1. “Friend to Friend”
2. “I’m Coming Out”

Side Three
1. “Have Fun (Again)”
2. “My Old Piano”

Side Four
1. “Now That You’re Gone”
2. “Give Up”



SAN CISCO TO RELEASE 3RD ALBUM MAY 5TH


San Cisco To Release Third Album 'The Water' 
May 5th
First Single SloMo Out Now

April 21st, 2017 Fremantle, Australia/New York, NY: San Cisco will be releasing their third album 'The Water' on May 5th via their own Island City Records, distributed through Metropolitan Groove Merchants in America. This is the follow up to 2015's 'Gracetown' that Noisey called "the kind of thing you'll want to listen to all summer." The songs on The Water were penned by singer Jordi Davieson over a relatively short time span and in his words, are “a good snapshot of my life and headspace earlier this year”.


Production wise, The Water takes a new direction from previous releases and is more of a collaborative effort that came to life in the studio the during recording process. The result is an album that is as diverse in its sound as it is in subject matters.

The album was made over a six-month period last year, in staggered sessions that went for one or two weeks at a time. Drummer and singer Scarlett Stevens says the plan with The Water, which was written and produced with San Cisco’s long-time collaborator Steve Schram, was “to refine the San Cisco sound”. Not only has that sound been refined and enhanced by 10 deliciously upbeat pop songs, but the hook quotient has been increased significantly.

The Water features the disco tinged classic SloMo you can check out here:



Formed in Fremantle, Western Australia in 2009, San Cisco is comprised of Jordi Davieson (vocals/guitar), Josh Biondillo (guitar), Nick Gardner (bass), and Scarlett Stevens (vocals/drums.) The band released their first EP Golden Revolver in 2010, followed up by their break out hit Awkward that presently has nearly 10 million views on YouTube. The debut self-titled album followed in 2012 earning the band nominations for Breakthrough Artist - Release, Best Independent Release and Best Dance Release at the ARIA Music Awards in 2013.


Their sophomore album 'Gracetown' with a more mature sound was released in 2015 to critical acclaim: "There’s much more emotional and musical heft to their sugary sweetness as on “Magic”, “Too Much Time Together” and “Run”, but the album’s highlights come when San Cisco go for broke and head off the rails in the impressively strange “Super Slow” and slinky electro-funk closer “Just For a Minute” Rolling Stone Australia.

NME also heralded the album's sound: "As single ‘Too Much Time Together’ attests, polished follow up ‘Gracetown’ is an even poppier confection, sugared with breathless adolescent crushes on opener ‘Run’ and syrupy R&B on vocoder jam ‘Super Slow’. With The Water, the band continues to evolve and improve on their songwriting and they look forward to showcasing the tunes on an upcoming American tour, soon to be announced.

Website: https://www.sancisco.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanciscomusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanciscomusic
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