A ‘lost album’ by James Last has finally been released – 44 years after it was recorded.
Titled The America Album, it was produced in Hamburg in 1969 specifically for American audiences. The album wasn’t released and disappeared into Polydor’s archives for almost five decades.
The 11-track album has been described as “artistically ambitious” and “ahead of its time”. It features pop and rock-oriented songs by the likes of Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Jimmy Webb, Laura Nyro and Rod McKuen – including classic late-1960s songs such as ‘Wedding Bell Blues’, ‘Sunshine of Your Love’, ‘Lady Lady Lay’ and ‘Ballad of Easy Rider’.
Bobby Vinton fans are being offered a new 2CD set which contains 40 of his greatest hits, B-sides and cover versions of classic songs from the 1960s. Titled Bobby Vinton – The Ultimate Epic Singles Collection, it is said to be “the most comprehensive Bobby Vinton ‘hits’ package ever released”.
Released on 12 August 2013, the collection features all of his hits, including ‘Roses Are Red (My Love)’, ‘Blue Velvet’, ‘Blue On Blue’ and ‘Mr. Lonely’, along with his take on songs like ‘Take Good Care of My Baby’, ‘Half Way to Paradise’ and ‘Sealed With A Kiss’.
Bobby Vinton, now aged 78, has been called “the most successful love singer of the rock era”. From his first hit record ‘Roses Are Red (My Love)’ in 1962 through to 1972, he had more Number One singles than any other solo male artist.
Engelbert Humperdinck, 75, will perform a Spanish-flavoured ballad called ‘Love Will Set You Free’ as the UK’s entry in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan on 26 May.
The UK hasn’t won since Katrina and the Waves’ ‘Love Shine a Light’ in 1997, but Engelbert – best known for his 1967 hit ‘Release Me’ – is hoping to reverse the UK’s fortunes this year.
‘Love Will Set You Free’ was written by Grammy award-winning producer Martin Terefe and Ivor Novello award winner Sacha Skarbek, who co-wrote James Blunt’s ‘You’re Beautiful’ and Lana Del Rey’s ‘Born To Die’.
Watch the official video for ‘Love Will Set You Free’ and read the full story HERE…
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How important are favourite songs from your past in bringing back happy memories to cheer you up in these worrying economic times?
Engelbert Humperdinck, 75, is set to become the oldest ever contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest when he represents the UK at this year’s event in Baku, Azerbaijan on 26 May.
Humperdinck said it was “an absolute honour” to be taking part and was “excited and raring to go”.
The song he will perform will be announced shortly. It is being written by Grammy award-winning producer Martin Terefe and Ivor Novello winner Sacha Skarbek, who co-wrote the James Blunt hit ‘You’re Beautiful’.
The UK hasn’t won since Katrina and the Waves’ ‘Love Shine a Light’ in 1997.
Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that his new album will have the saucy title of Kisses On the Bottom.
Set for release on 6 February 2012, the album features Diana Krall and her band and includes cover versions of standards from the former Beatle’s childhood, as well as two new original McCartney compositions titled ‘My Valentine’ and ‘Only Our Hearts’.
The full tracklisting is expected to be announced shortly.
‘My Valentine’ features a guest appearance by Eric Clapton, while Stevie Wonder performs on ‘Only Our Hearts’.
Kisses On the Bottom is expected to provide a glimpse into “the songs which inspired the songs” that McCartney has written over the years.
Listen to McCartney’s new song ‘MY VALENTINE’ and watch the OFFICIAL VIDEO about the making of the album HERE…
Dionne Warwick is set to play five Jazz FM-hosted UK concerts in May and June 2012 as part of the celebrations to mark her 50th year in music.
Her first solo single, ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David), was released in 1962.
Jazz FM has announced that the 71-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer plans to come to the UK with her regular band and a 12-piece string section for a series of Jazz FM Live shows in Gateshead, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool.
Along with Lita Roza, Dickie Valentine and Jimmy Young, Dennis Lotis was one of the UK’s most successful singers and TV performers in the 1950s – having made his name as a vocalist with the Ted Heath Band.
Here’s a rare British Pathé newsreel profile of South African-born Lotis, filmed at the height of his fame in January 1958 …
Dusty Springfield fans are in for a treat this Christmas following the release of a brand new Super Deluxe box set that spans her entire career.
Titled Goin’ Back: The Definitive Dusty Springfield, the comprehensive collection comes in a lavish pink box and features four CDs, three DVDs, two hardback books and four photo prints.
The four CDs are split thematically into Dusty’s hits, rarities, BBC recordings, and her work for stage and screen.
Also now available is The Magic Of Dusty Springfield – a new 4-disc set that is presented in hardback book-style packaging.
Rod Stewart has confirmed he is working on his autobiography and promises to hold nothing back.
“Forget skeletons in the closet; this one’s going to be socks and knickers under the bed,” says Stewart.
The book will tell 66-year-old Stewart’s life story, taking in his early days in The Jeff Beck Group and The Faces, to the present day. He will also talk about his three marriages, his playboy lifestyle, and his romantic conquests.
At the age of 85, Tony Bennett has entered the record books as the oldest living artist in history to top the US charts. His latest album, Tony Bennett: Duets II, has reached the summit of the US Billboard chart 54 years after his album Tony reached No. 14 in 1957.
The record for ‘oldest chart-topper’ was previously held by Bob Dylan who reached No. 1 at the age of 67 in 2009 with his album Together Through Life.
The all-star line-up of artists joining Bennett live in the studio on Tony Bennett: Duets II includes Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, the late Amy Winehouse, and many more.
A ‘lost album’ by James Last has finally been released – 44 years after it was recorded.
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