NEWSLETTER #18!

SAL & TONY RETURN FROM HOLIDAY HIATUS!

SAL GETS FOOD POISONING AT WORLD PARTY SHOW!

TONY EATS BAG OF ZEPPOLES AT FRANK SINATRA JR. SHOW!

BOTH SAY "I'M READY" FOR THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER!

Let's get right to NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES, shall we? (With a few of this week's thrown in)

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!

We've written about this and teased all of you for weeks now, and your chance to buy it and hear it for yourself is finally here. ELVIS COSTELLO & ALLEN TOUSSAINT's "THE RIVER IN REVERSE" is a landmark recording. What originally started as a Joe Henry-produced Elvis Costello reading of the Allen Toussaint songbook became an emotional collaboration between the two artists and some of New Orleans' finest musicians. Rather than go for the obvious Toussaint hits, El & Al (El-Al for short) dug deep into the Toussaint catalog for songs that relate in some way to the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina. What we get is one of the finest recordings of the year. Costello's vocals are restrained compared to the oversinging he's been prone to on his collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet and Burt Bacharach, and Joe Henry seems to do no wrong lately in the producer's booth. An interesting sidenote: Many of these songs can be found in their original form on the LEE DORSEY "YES WE CAN" import on Raven Records, which is also available through us. Get them both!

ODDBALL BEE GEES REMASTERS!

We love the Bee Gees, from their early incarnation as a '60s British pop band right on through their groundbreaking disco classics which started with the legendary "Saturday Night Fever." Where they lost us was with their last seven records, where they turned into the Three Barry Manilows. And those, our friends, are the records that are now being remastered and reissued. "THIS IS WHERE I CAME IN," "STILL WATERS," "SIZE ISN'T EVERYTHING," and "ONE NIGHT ONLY," all of which had some forgettable hit singles and now reside in $2 crates all over the world. Also in this batch, which are not as horrendous, are 1979's "SPIRITS HAVING FLOWN" and the two CD "GREATEST HITS" compilation, as well as the genuinely solid CD "CHILDREN OF THE WORLD," from 1976. Let's hope that they're starting backwards with this reissue campaign and not forgetting the classic early releases.

CHEAP TRICK - "ROCKFORD." On their first studio album in three years, this legendary rock band continues to work for their money, and while we haven't heard anything off this new release yet, we can guarantee that, just like every single one of their releases since their debut in 1976, that it will contain at least a few classics.

CRACKER - "GREENLAND." Now featuring legendary bass player Sal Maida as part of their touring band, these MTV faves are back together for the first time in... in a long time. "Greenland" is getting a good buzz, so hear it for yourself.

ROBERT FRIPP - "EXPOSURE." Originally released in 1979, guitar legend and King Crimson founder Robert Fripp's debut solo LP gets expanded to include a second CD featuring a ton of unreleased tracks with such guest stars as Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall, Brian Eno, Phil Collins, Peter Hammill, and Terre Roche.

THE NEW CARS - "IT'S ALIVE." It's as ridiculous as you think it is, but if you like the Cars, this combo of two original members plus Todd Rundgren and Kasim Sulton playing the roles of Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr really sounds great. Rundgren does his best Ocasek on vocals, but since Rundgren always had a better voice, the songs sound less jokey and not as dated. Elliott Easton's guitar solos are right on the money as always, and the three new studio tracks are about as good as pop singles get. The first single, "Not Tonight," could take its place alongside any vintage Cars hit. So stop laughing.

SPEAKING OF WORLD PARTY... don't eat the Tuscan salad!

Instead, get the next two reissues, "BANG" and "EGYPTOLOGY." Both feature new remastering, deluxe packaging, and links to rare bonus tracks. Many people consider "GOODBYE JUMBO" to be the one to have, but take it from a World Party fanatic -- "BANG" is right up there, and "EGYPTOLOGY" is no slouch either.

ZERO 7 - "GARDEN." You've heard them in boutiques and restaurants worldwide -- now hear them in your home. Featuring layers of synthetic soothing beats and upbeat rhythms, all held together by the most minute thread of a melody. Sure to not offend anyone!

FRANK SINATRA, JR. - "THAT FACE." Fine, go ahead, laugh. But this is better than all those crappy standards records by Rod Stewart, Michael Bolton, etc. etc.. If you care, read an expanded review of this album right here on our blog! And if you don't care, then this will certainly make that New Cars record seem more appealing.

ALREADY OUT AND WAITING TO BE BOUGHT!

DAVE ALVIN - "WEST OF THE WEST." Alvin pays tribute to the songwriters of California, such as Ron Cey, Jim Davenport, Roman Gabriel and Jerry West. Oh wait, that's Phil Alvin's tribute to West Coast athletes -- sorry. On this album, Dave Alvin covers Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, John Fogerty, Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, Jackson Browne, and Tom Waits, to name but a few.

PEEPING TOM - "PEEPING TOM." Mike Patton's (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Lovage) new project features guest performances by Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Bebel Gilberto, and Kool Keith.

JAMES LUTHER DICKINSON - "JUNGLE JIM AND THE VOODOO TIGER." Memphis legend is once again backed by his sons, better known as the North Mississippi All Stars," but unlike his just-released spoken word record, this is Jim doing what he does best -- good old fashioned American rock n' roll. Also includes a brilliant testimonial by Ry Cooder.

THERESA ANDERSSON - "E.P." This new release from the New Orleans-by-way-of Sweden chanteuse could be the best release of her career. Stripped-down and simple, Andersson gives emotional readings to some new originals, as well as a brilliant, heart-tugging version of Madonna's "Borderline."

GET ANY OR ALL OF THESE CDs, AS WELL AS ANYTHING WE MAY NOT HAVE MENTIONED, BY CALLING US AT (212) 244-3460 OR EMAILING US AT HEYNYCD@aol.com!

BUY! CDs from us on Amazon, that is!
SELL! Your CDs and DVDs to us, that is! Call or email and let us know what you've got!

Until next week, we leave you with this:

Eat a banana.

Your friends,
Earl Scruggs and Leslie Uggams, the Great Scruggs & Uggams