NEWSLETTER #13!

Before we get to the newsletter, don't forget that we are always on the lookout for CDs and DVDs. If you have some that you want to sell, or you know someone who has discs to sell, GET IN TOUCH WITH US! Email us at HEYNYCD@aol.com or call us at (212) 244-3460. Come down to our office or, if you've got too many to carry, we'll come to you, providing there aren't too many for us to carry and it's a reasonably priced cab ride away.

You've been waiting all week, so here it is for your weekend reading pleasure...

NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES!

WHO'S THE BOSS?

TONY DANZA breaks out Bob Seger's band for a one-off... what's that?... Actually, the recently prolific BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN has teamed up with a group of musicians for WE SHALL OVERCOME: THE PETE SEEGER SESSIONS. Out on Tuesday, this tribute to folk legend Pete Seeger is just one more jewel in Springsteen's crown. A rollicking trip through some of the most legendary folk songs of the last century, We Shall Overcome is not some throwaway covers record, nor is it just another Springsteen record. It is a soulful and emotional tribute, mixing Celtic melodies, New Orleans brass band arrangements, and good old E Street rock and roll. This baby is a winner, and even if you've never been a Springsteen fan, this record deserves your attention and your $15.

Not as exciting is the new 2 CD greatest hits compilation from CINDERELLA, GOLD, featuring one of Tony's all-time least favorite songs, "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

THE GOO GOO DOLLS - LET LOVE IN. Buffalo's answer to Nickelback used to be really good. Think a cross between early Replacements and arena rock. Then Johnny Rzezzxnzikkzkz made tons of money from his ballad "Iris," told partner-in-crime Robbie Tkakackatk to stay in the back because he wasn't as good looking, and what we now have is three boring records in a row. This new release sounds like they are trying a bit harder to get back to the melodic rock and roll that drew their fans in to begin with. Features a faithful cover of Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit," which is either very exciting or very douche-y, depending on whether you are Sal or Tony.

"THIS IS WORKIN', THIS IS THE WAY YOU DO IT!"

MARK KNOPFLER & EMMYLOU HARRIS, Buffalo's answer to Phil Harris and Alice Faye (OK, never mind), release their wonderful new duets record, ALL THE ROADRUNNING. Recorded over several years, this record truly sounds like a combination of the best of Dire Straits with Emmylou's distinctive vocal style.

IAN McLAGAN - TROUBLEMAKER/BUMP IN THE NIGHT. Original Small Face and keyboardist extraordinare McLagan sees his long out-of-print debut solo record and its followup paired together on one remastered CD. This is rockin' good fun.

SECRET MACHINES - TEN SILVER DROPS. David Bowie's new favorite band (guess he dropped Arcade Fire like a hot potato) releases their second full length album to great acclaim from David Bowie.

TOM VERLAINE - AROUND and SONGS & OTHER THINGS. Two new releases from the Television guitar genius. Around is an atmospheric instrumental record, much like 1992's Warm & Cool,while Songs & Other Things is the best solo record he's made since his debut. Songs that could have easily been on a new Television record, all featuring Verlaine's hate-it-or-love-it voice (we love it), and brilliant guitar playing.

IRMA THOMAS - AFTER THE RAIN. The soul queen of New Orleans releases her first studio recording since 2000's Dan Penn tribute, My Heart's In Memphis. Featuring an all-star New Orleans lineup of Stanton Moore on drums, David Torkanowsky on piano, and James Singleton on bass, After The Rain was actually conceived and recorded pre-Katrina, yet somehow the songs sound like they're referring to the hurricane and its aftermath, and Thomas' vocals sound better than ever.

BOB BELDEN - THREE DAYS OF RAIN. Written for the Michael Meredith film of the same name, jazz musician and producer Bob Belden gathered together some of the genre's greatest musicians - Joe Lovano, Marc Copland, Jason Moran, and Joe Chambers, to name a few - to create a beautiful piece of noir jazz. Perfect for late night listening. This could be one of the best jazz records of the year.

THE STREETS - HARDEST WAY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING. The new record from the annoying British rappers that so-called hipsters really like. Get yours now!

GET YOUR ORDERS IN! EMAIL US at HEYNYCD@aol.com or CALL US at (212) 244-3460. And as always, if there's something we didn't mention that you want, just let us know and we can get it for you.

TONY'S PICK OF THE YEAR!

"DO YOU HAVE NAT KING COLE IN A BOX? WELL, YOU'D BETTER LET HIM OUT!"

For those of you with a lot of space on your shelf and a few hundred bucks in your pocket, the new 11 CD extravaganza from Bear Family Records, NAT KING COLE's The Complete Capitol Recordings 1955-59, is worth the time and money, not to mention the hernia you may get from lifting the box. Cole recorded close to 300 songs for Capitol during this period, among them some of his most famous albums — the jazz classic After Midnight, his ballad albums with Gordon Jenkins, the collaboration with the Count Basie orchestra, Welcome To The Club, and the classic Just One Of Those Things, arranged by Billy May — plus collaborations with Nelson Riddle and Dave Cavanaugh, not to mention dozens of songs only released as singles or on hard-to-find albums. The enormous hardcover book, written by Will Friedwald and studded with dozens of rare photos, is amazing as well. This is the period where Cole really established himself as a pop vocalist second only to Sinatra, and made some great jazz piano records as well. It's all here, including an album's worth of previously unreleased tracks. And this box does NOT include "Ramblin' Rose" or "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer." Two more reasons to own it.Clean out the piggy bank and order this one now! Email us at HEYNYCD@aol.com for more details.

NYCD TAKES A FIELD TRIP!

Sal, Tony and Rob made the pilgrimage down to Mo Pitkin's on Ave. A to see JAMES HUNTER, the 43 year old British R & B phenomenon who sounds like a cross between Sam Cooke and Georgie Fame, and looks like a British Tab Hunter, if Tab Hunter looked like a slimmed-down Oliver Reed. What can we say? We've raved about the record (People Gonna Talk, available from us!) right here in the newsletter, and we know we've turned a lot of our readers on to him as well, because we saw you all there at the club. But brilliant as his record is, nothing prepared us for the so-good-it-was-ridiculousness of his performance. The upstairs room at Mo Pitkin's was no bigger than a New York City tour bus, and set up almost exactly (perhaps purposely?) like the legendary Max's Kansas City. Once the band kicked in, the room heated up, and if you closed your eyes, you might as well have been in the Cavern in Liverpool in 1962, listening to the Beatles, if the Beatles had played British R & B like Georgie Fame. Needless to say, we are still reeling from the best live performance we've seen since anything by Ashanti on any televised awards show. The band was tighter than Dick Cheney's sphincter, and they didn't shoot any of us in the face. So go see James Hunter live, last night at Mo Pitkin's! You'll have an amazing time. We did!

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

This week and next week is the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, where Sal will be spending his time and money, and hopefully leaving his stiff neck and stress-related allergies at the edge of a bayou. Look forward to some New Orleans reviews and updates in the coming weeks. For the next two newsletters, Tony will keep you busy with lots of cocktail recipes and the occasional testimonial to the Three Suns.

Your friends,
Pat and Mooney Suzuki