Like a "Bat Out of Hell" Meat Loaf is "Braver" at number 4...!!!
Grammy Award-winning musician and acclaimed film, TV and stage actor Meat Loaf has another hit on his hands as his highly-anticipated new album, “Braver Than We Are” has debuted at #11 on the Billboard Top 200 Current Albums Chart and at #4 on their Rock Chart this week. Working closely again with longtime collaborator Jim Steinman—a key to the magic of multi-platinum selling albums “Bat Out of Hell” and “Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell”—Meat has recorded ten songs written by Steinman—featuring the first song he ever wrote in a storied career to the most recent. 429 Records released “Braver Than We Are” digitally, on CD and vinyl in the U.S. on September 16.
Exclusive CD with 3 bonus tracks featuring Imelda May on a new orchestral version of “I Would Do Anything For Love” -hyperurl.co/qdn48r
Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony®-winning singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper is continuing to take country music by storm with her Billboard Top Country Album DETOUR, which is still in the Top 40 and continues to spark sales at retailers nationwide like Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® and more! Lauper recently stopped by the TODAY show to chat with Kathy Lee and Hoda about DETOUR and her collaborations with country music greats, including Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Jewel, Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris. Click HERE to watch the clip. Known best for her legendary pop icon status, Lauper is reigning in a new legion of fans with her new country-tinged album DETOUR featuring a collection of country covers from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s (track listing below). DETOUR debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
"These songs had a profound impact on me when I was a little girl listening to my Aunt Gracie's kitchen radio in Queens. I grew up listening and admiring Patsy Cline, Patsy Montana, Hank Williams - all the greats from the Golden Age of country. It was an honor to record those beautiful songs for DETOUR and I am so thankful for the fans and the country music community for welcoming me with open arms," Lauper said.
Lauper just returned from the European leg of her DETOUR tour and is currently in the midst of the second leg of her U.S. tour which takes her along the west coast before wrapping up October 8 at The Joint in Las Vegas. In addition, Lauper’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert is scheduled for December 3 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Additional details – including special guests performers - will be announced soon. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets before this highly anticipated tour sells out in your area!
Critics are raving about the pop star’s unique approach to country classics:
“The singer confidently twangs and yodels her way through covers of everyone from Patsy Montana to Patsy Cline.” Benjamin Lindsay, Vanity Fair
“Her new release, Detour, an album full of classic country song covers, is less an indicator of the veteran pop star’s desire to change genres than it is a sincere homage to a dozen tunes she grew up listening to on a transistor radio in her aunt’s kitchen and falling in love with.” – Chapman Baehler, Billboard Magazine
“Lauper and Norman native Vince Gill work together to cover ‘You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,’ … The song is a rollicking and infectious version of the 1978 country B-side recorded by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.” Ben Luschen, Oklahoma Gazette
DETOUR Tour: Sept. 18 Paramount Theatre - Denver, Colo. Sept. 20 The Depot - Salt Lake City, Utah Sept. 21 Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical - Boise, Idaho Sept. 23 Thunder Valley Casino Resort - Lincoln, Calif. Sept. 24 Agua Caliente Casino - Rancho Mirage, Calif. Sept. 27 Vina Robles Amphitheatre - Paso Robles, Calif. Sept. 28 Arlington Theatre - Santa Barbara, Calif. Sept. 30 The Mountain Winery - Saratoga, Calif. Oct. 03 Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay - San Diego, Calif. Oct. 05 Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 07 Talking Stick Resort Ballroom - Scottsdale, Ariz. Oct. 08 The Joint - Las Vegas, Nev. Dec. 03 Beacon Theatre, New York, N.Y.
Smell What Meat Loaf Is Cooking! Photo: Martin Hausler
Meat Loaf, with a side of music...the perfect combo!
If you watch TV, read magazines, listen to the radio or browse the web, chances are you’ll be seeing and hearing Meat Loaf in the coming weeks. To celebrate the release of his highly-anticipated new album Braver Than We Are(available Sept. 9 in Europe and Sept. 16 in the US and the rest of the world), the Grammy Award-winning musician and acclaimed film, TV and stage actor will make appearances on numerous TV shows, including NBC’s TODAY and AOL Build on Sept. 12, Fox & Friends on Sept. 13, ABC’s The Chew Sept. 14, Oprah’s Where Are They Now, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, The Big Interview with Dan Rather, PBS’ Metro Focus, CNBC’s Closing Bell and many more, as well as multiple shows on SiriusXM and The Alan Colmes Show on Fox News Radio. Additionally, interviews with Meat Loaf will appear in upcoming issues of People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Closer Weekly and Parade Magazine, as well as on Billboard and Huffington Post. "People won't believe us but we're more excited about this album than we were Bat 1 and I'm thrilled to be finally sharing it with the world," Meat Loaf stated.
In a career spanning over four decades, Braver Than We Are is Meat Loaf’s fourth album featuring songs exclusively written by Jim Steinman. With a painting featuring Meat and Jim together for the first time gracing the cover, the album hearkens back to the hugely successful Meat-Steinman collaborations Bat Out of Hell (1977) and Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell (1993), which together sold over 67 million units. Braver Than We Are is a testament to Meat’s artistic rapport with Steinman. The songwriter’s strikingly vivid style matched with Meat’s incomparable talents not to mention his wit and grandiosity, results in the two successfully connecting with audiences on an epic scale. 429 Records will release Braver Than We Aredigitally, on CD and vinyl in Europe on Sept. 9 and the US and rest of the world on Sept. 16.
To Purchase “Braver Than We Are” visit: iTunes Bonus Edition including ‘Going All The Way’ radio single hyperurl.co/ilyydm
Left to right: Danny Nozell, CEO, CTK Management; Dolly Parton; and, Kirt Webster, President/CEO, Webster Public Relations
Because she can, can, can...
World-renowned singer/songwriter/entertainer Dolly Parton has a worldwide #1 album to celebrate this week. The superstar’s new release Pure & Simple debuts at #1 not only in the U.S., but, also on the national country charts in Canada, U.K. and Australia.
Dolly’s 43rd studio recording and the first release of her recently-announced joint venture between Dolly Records and Sony Music Nashville, achieves #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with first-week sales of 20,000 units! This marks the first time Dolly has topped Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in the 25-year history of SoundScan.
The new album which released August 19th on Dolly Records/RCA Nashville lands the #11 slot on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart with a first-week total consumption of 21,000. On Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, the disc debuts at #1. In the UK, Pure & Simple enters the all-genre album sales chart at #2, behind Frank Ocean’s Blonde.
Upon hearing the news, Dolly Parton, who co-produced and wrote every song on Pure & Simple, enthused, "Boy, it's a good day for me. I am a happy girl!" She continued, "It feels great to be #1 as it's been a long time and it feels so good to still be in the game after all this time."
Remarked Doug Morris, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, “Congratulations, Dolly, for your stunning debut with Pure & Simple.You put your heart and soul in this album, and we join you in celebrating a long-overdue #1 on the country album chart.”
“I thought it was a magical time back in 1981, when I first started working with Dolly as we set up her Best Little Whorehouse album on RCA, right after her huge hit, ‘9 To 5,’” reflected Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville. “I spent a week with her on the RCA jet visiting radio and retail all over the country.” Goodman continued, “But, to be reunited with Dolly and have a #1 debut is wonderful. Thank you, Doug Morris for bringing Dolly back to RCA.”
CTK Management CEO Danny Nozell said, "There is nobody more deserving of this tremendous success. Having worked with Dolly for the past 13 years, I have never met any person that works harder than her.” Nozell added, “She is a businesswoman that understands her brand and knows exactly what to do and when to do it, and once again, she proves it with a #1 album."
Last week, Dolly Parton made appearances on NBC’s Today and Tonight Show, among other TV shows.
Fans can link to purchase Pure & Simple and the various versions available by exclusive partners below:
Get "Down In A Hole" w/Kiefer Sutherland Photo: Beth Elliott
Kiefer Sutherland’s debut album DOWN IN A HOLE, a passion project chock-full of 11 co-written tracks, isavailable nowat all digital retailers and wherever music is sold! A special edition vinyl LP is also available exclusively at Barnes & Noble (click hereto order online). Sutherland is everywhere as he promotes DOWN IN A HOLE,including a guest appearance and musical performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” August 24. He’ll perform “Can’t Stay Away,” which recently premiered on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown (click here to watch).
DOWN IN A HOLE is also featured in People, Billboard, Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Wall Street Journal, Guitar Player, The Boot, Vice/Live Nation TV, Closer Weekly, US Weekly, Sounds Like Nashville, Nashville Country Club, Taste of Country, The Pickup, Paste, Bella Magazine, Celebrity Page, Consequence of Sound, Associated Press and more!
Sutherland will also be on the cover of upcoming cover issues of Guitar Aficionado and Goldmine Magazine.
Reviewers are applauding Sutherland’s vocals, guitar licks and songwriting style:
“Kiefer Sutherland...slows down and unwinds on his debut album, a collection of 11 rough-edged country songs…The album has an unexpected, unvarnished authenticity that is pleasant, if sometimes familiar.” -Jill Lawless, Associated Press
“Kiefer Sutherland’s new album DOWN IN A HOLE casts the popular actor in the role of talented songwriter/musician, something as unexpected as a 24 plot twist. His voice and original material are strong, begging the question, “Kiefer, what took you so long?” -Mike Ragogna, Huffington Post
“Highlighted by his gravelly, whiskey-soaked growl, 49-year-old Kiefer Sutherland’s debut set of electric guitar–enhanced Southern rockers and smoky barroom ballads fares better than most other actors’ first releases.” -Ian Drew, US Weekly
“The perfect soundtrack for your Americana, dive bar road trip, “All She Wrote” starts off with an intro that would sound right at home during the duel scene in a modern western. Sutherland’s gritty vocals overlap electric guitar and crashing drums…” -Kat Harlton, Lithium Magazine
“This record is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a journal or diary. All of these songs are pulled from my own personal experiences. As much as I have enjoyed the writing and recording process, I am experiencing great joy now being able to play these songs to a live audience, which was something I hadn’t counted on,” Sutherland said of DOWN IN A HOLE.
Sutherland recently wrapped up a North American tour where he sold out venues across the U.S. and Canada. Additional dates for this fall will be announced soon.
Jade Starling, a songbird by any other name is not the same.
Continuing to enjoy a career resurgence highlighted by last fall’s celebrated return to the Billboard Dance charts with her highest rankings since her iconic classic hit “Catch Me I’m Falling,” JADE STARLING of Pretty Poison today takes tremendous “pride’ in releasing the “feel good” anthem of the summer, #PARTY2LIFE.
#PARTY2LIFE is a “Celebration of Life” anthem promoting “Solidarity, Unity and Love,” inspired in part by her passionate bond with the LGBT community, for which she has been a career-long advocate. The song arrives at a time when, she says, “we really need to focus on bringing a Positive light into our lives.”
“We can heal through music,” says Jade, “and together we can make a difference.”
#PARTY2LIFE is yet another irresistibly catchy collaboration with Jade’s inseparable writing partner, Whey Cooler, with music by DJ Mike Ferullo of Tazmania Records. The new track is already a Buzz Record and getting adds at Dance Radio.
The #PARTY2LIFE party kicks into high gear this weekend, when the song debuts on the hugely popular Hollywood Hamilton’ National ReMix Top 30 countdown in over 80 radio markets nationwide, New York’s WKTU, a leading IHeart Media affiliate. This Sunday (June 26), Jade will be the Featured Artist on the WKTU Float in the NYC Gay Pride March, performing to a massive live crowd. She will be shooting more footage for her upcoming #PARTY2LIFE music video at the New York Pride March, as well.
Jade also has been busy shooting the #PARTY2LIFE video during performances in both the Washington DC and Philadelphia Pride events. She will be touring extensively in support of this record while working on her next solo album, the follow-up to her critically acclaimed CAPTIVE, which spawned three Billboard club hits, including the #3 smash “Better and Better.”
Here's something of note. Daniel Ash is back and Stripped on his bomb ass new album!
For over 35 years, Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Tones On Tail, Love & Rockets) has been one of the seminal figures in alternative music; whether for his wildly experimental guitar playing or for his sardonic vocal stylings, or perhaps even for throwing in a bit of saxophone. Having defied categorization by fusing elements of electronica with punk, goth, and glam rock, Ash has earned the status of a living legend.
Stripped (Main Man Records) is Ash's first studio album since 2002. The album features all "re-takes" done in a style that resembles dub-step, variations of EDM, Atmospheric and Ambient "A-La Brian Eno Meets Bowie". Avid fans may recognize the songs but in reality they are at times completely different in a genetic recombination passing through a centrifuge
The biggest commercial hit by Love and Rockets was "So Alive" which in itself is a masterpiece. the record went to #3 on the Billboard Pop charts. Legendary producer of the original John Fryer was tapped for the new version of "So Alive" along with "Love Me" and the Bauhaus classic, "Slice Of Life."
Stripped
Stripped also features producer Mat Mitchell of Puscifer on the track "Christian Says" and Adam Bravin of She Wants Revenge on "OK This Is the Pops." Both classic songs are originally from Tones On Tail, the band born out of the ashes of Bauhaus and later became Love and Rockets.
Stripped also features the never released until now new song "Come On"
With Adele fever catching fire all over the world, why shouldn't Britney Spears get in on the action?
Hey why not? All the popular people are jumping on the Adele wagon. Both the single, Hello, and the album, 25, have broken records. More than 3.38 million copies of 25 were sold in its first week in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music, marking the largest single sales week for an album since the company began tracking point-of-sale music purchases in 1991, Billboardreported. Yowza! Britney posted a video on her Instagram page getting her pirouette on to Hello. Saying: "I could dance to this song a MILLION times...love you @adele!" Well Spears you have 2 million more times to go before you beat Adele's amazing record! Spin with Britney below.
Billboard charting Singer/Songwriter Aiden Leslie took some time to slow down recently and chat with Entertain Me about his latest single I Just Go.
As you can well imagine other things came up during the conversation as well, but you are going to have to keep calm and read on to find out what those might be...so let's do it Aiden!
AL: When was the last time we spoke? We have done an interview before.
MS: Yes, it was for "Worlds Away" (laughs) that's why I thought it would be fun to do it again!
AL: That is so crazy! That was like, five years ago! It feels like it was just yesterday, but it's been five years, that's crazy!
MS: It's longer than I thought it was.
AL: It's half a decade! (both laugh)
MS: Pride season just passed, did you perform a lot during it?
Photo: Rick Day
AL: Yeah, I got to get around (laughs) Getting out there is always good. I just put "I Just Go" out. I feel really proud of the whole release of that single. Everyone on my team did a really good job of getting it out there. Artistically I am very proud of the work we did. That's always an important thing to do and to feel, especially in today's music climate. If you are proud of it and happy with it that's what really matters.
MS: That's how I feel about it too.
AL: We live in this fifteen second world. Where you have to get your message out in a very quick time frame, via Instagram or anything like that. People don't have the attention spans that they once had, because of the world we live in everything is so quick. So you see people putting out an album and not everybody really catches it because it is too much for people to take in, you know what I mean?
MS: Yes, when I was a kid I was an avid reader, now it's a lot for me to read a book. My attention span has diminished with the times.
AL: Right. There are pluses and minuses to the world we live in. There are so many benefits to technology, but on the flip side, do we really stop and savor much anymore? Like Madonna she puts out twenty-five tracks on an album because she has to get so much material out there in a short amount of time. Normally people would only do, like, twelve to thirteen tracks.
MS: My favorite track off of "Rebel Heart" is "Ghosttown."
AL: Oh My God! This is the funny thing. Reports on the tour which just kicked off is that she's not even performing it right now. It's pretty insane it got the most attention and it's the best song on the album! It's so well written, it's more like her old stuff. It's something Miley or Beyonce' would sing. It's really contemporary, I love that song!
MS: Speaking of contemporary, "I Just Go" really is. The video has gotten some great comments on YouTube.
AL: Yes, yeah...when we really sat down to think about how we were going to do it, there were a lot of different concepts. I really wanted to do something very cinematic and emotional with the video. The waves and running through the waves was this whole thing for me. It was like fighting both worlds trying to break out of one and go to the other. "I Just Go" is such a personal song. It's about doing the one thing over and over again and expecting a different result. That is the definition of insanity! (laughs) It's a universal theme of repeating and repeating something that is going to change, but it does not often change. It was written at a really dark time in my life when I was really hanging out with the wrong crowd and doing a lot of not good things, very unhealthy things. It caught up to me and I couldn't get out of it, it was like a hamster wheel. I was always trying to find my way in circumstances that weren't going to happen for me. It was about picking the wrong guys and picking the wrong situation. I think that is something we can all identify with.
MS: Definitely.
AL: We all go through that. The goal is to try and make the right choices. One of the lyrics in the song is "running down this path searching with my eyes closed searching for the truth." Running down a path, but you've got your eyes closed and refuse to see what is in front of you. You don't want to see it, it's always the struggle of trying to do the right thing. Like the the lyric says "I could care, but I just go." You keep doing the same thing over and over again until you finally learn, like Maya Angelou said: "Lessons are repeated, until they are learned." - when you know better you'll do better.
MS: By the way, I meant to say this earlier, I think the reason it doesn't seem like five years since we have spoke is because we have communicated through Facebook and Twitter.
AL: Yes! That's why! (both laugh) You see each other on Facebook and say "Hi" you don't even realize it. That's what I was talking about earlier it's a crazy world we live in. We're all connected, but then again we're not connected.
MS: It can be a little odd.
AL: Let's not make it so long since we actually speak next time!
BARENAKED LADIES NEW ALBUM SILVERBALL PREMIERES ON BILLBOARD.COM
LAST SUMMER ON EARTH TOUR BEGINS ON JUNE 5TH IN COLUMBUS, OH
ADDITIONAL CITIES INCLUDE DENVER, CHICAGO, NASHVILLE, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES
Get naked grab a "Silverball" and do your thang!
Silverball, the new album from the Barenaked Ladies premieres exclusively on Billboard.com today. Available on June 2nd, the Ladies’ 14th studio album showcases the band’s growth and stands as a testament to their longevity.
The band kicks off their ‘Last Summer on Earth’ tour with the Violent Femmes and Colin Hay on June 5th at the LC Pavilion in Columbus, OH with stops including Denver June 10/Red Rocks, Chicago June 16/First Merit Bank Pavilion, New York City July 1/Pier 97, Los Angeles July 21/Greek Theater and wraps on July 26th at the Marymoor Amphitheater in Seattle, WA.
Yes it's a dream come true! Kelly Clarkson is touring with the world's favorite acapella group Pentatonix, get all the 411 below...see you there!
Earlier today on Good Morning America, global superstar and GRAMMY® Award winner Kelly Clarkson announced her 2015 PIECE BY PIECE TOUR. The 36-city tour, promoted exclusively by Live Nation, will start on July 11 in Hershey, Pennsylvania and culminate on Sept. 20 in Camden, New Jersey. Joining Kelly on the tour will be recent GRAMMY® winners Pentatonix and singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson. Kelly will be touring in support of her sixth studio album, Piece By Piece, which is available in stores and digitally today.
Fans will be able to access special pre-sales by being members of Kelly’s free online fan club, Kellebrities. To sign up and get more details, visit www.KellyClarkson.com. Citi® cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m. local time through Citi's Private Pass® Program. For complete pre-sale details, visit www.citiprivatepass.com. Tickets for the general public go on sale starting Saturday, March 14. For more information on the tour and specific on-sale dates, please visit www.KellyClarkson.com or www.LiveNation.com. Join the 2015 PIECE BY PIECE TOUR conversation at #PieceByPieceTour.
Kelly kicked off her U.S. promotion on Sunday with a profile on CBS Sunday Morning, followed by a performance and skit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night. Critics have been raving about Piece By Piece, TIME saying it’s, “a record that’s loaded with slick power-pop and uplifting empowerment anthems,” while Billboard states, “Clarkson doubles down on songs that put her skyscraping voice first. And it sounds better than ever.” Kelly can also be seen on the cover of this week’s People Magazine.
Kelly Clarkson 2015 PIECE BY PIECE TOUR Dates
All dates, venues and cities below subject to change.
