NEWSLETTER '07 #3!

R.I.P. ALICE COLTRANE, MICHAEL BRECKER & ART BUCHWALD

NO OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK -- LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT! WE SHOT OUR LOAD ON OUR BLOG!

NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES!

THE BEE GEES - REMASTERS. Many of you had doubts when we raved about the Bee Gees box that came out in November. Now, you have the opportunity to buy their first three albums (Bee Gees 1st, Horizontal and Idea) individually, without shelling out the big bucks for the box. Same 2 CD remasters, same great bonus tracks, same rave reviews from us. If you have to pick one, we recommend starting with Horizontal, but they're all great. Remember, this isn't the disco stuff, but lush, hook-filled '60s pop.

FRANK BLACK - CHRISTMASS (CD/DVD). Live acoustic recordings plus some new studio stuff, along with a live DVD by the enormous lead singer of the PIxies.

CLINIC - VISITATIONS. Their third record since their breakthrough album Walking With Thee still has the trademark Gang-Of-Four-meets-Charlatans -UK sound, but the songs are their strongest in years.

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - VERY BEST OF: MORE SONGS TO LEARN AND SING (CD/DVD). What makes this compilation different from their last six compilations is that this is the only one to be released in January 2007. Plus it's got videos.

FACES - DEFINITIVE ROCK. If the single disc best-of wasn't enough for you, but the 4 CD box set was too much (although we don't think there's such a thing as too much Faces), this new 2 CD collection expands upon the single disc, and actually gives you a taste of some of the rarities from the box set. Not a standard to be found! Highly recommended.

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN - THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN. Damon Albarn from Blur and the Gorillaz and Paul Simonon from the Clash release a new project which is supposed to sound like world music with a little British punk mixed in.

GRATEFUL DEAD - LIVE AT THE COW PALACE: NEW YEAR'S EVE 1976. Apparently popular in their time for playing long live shows and eating jam, these "hippies" still have quite a following. This live document is their 933rd live record, but only the 874th to feature "Playing In The Band."

LEE HAZLEWOOD - CAKE OR DEATH. Reportedly the last album by the legendary singer-songwriter, this features new recordings of some of his classic songs. Now we know he's sick, but what if he gets better? Or is inspired to make another quick record? Don't write Mr. Hazlewood off yet!

KRISTIN HERSH - LEARN HOW TO SING LIKE A STAR. It's like we always say. When life hands you lemons, make a Kristin Hersh record.

JOHN MELLENCAMP - FREEDOM'S ROAD. The new album featuring the Chevy commercial, the yogurt commercial, the cat food commercial, the insurance commercial, and a remix of "Pink Houses."

MOE - THE CONCH. His first record without Larry and Shemp is... oh, it's not that Moe? Oh, these are the guys who are pretty big on the jam circuit, selling out places as big as Radio City Music Hall. But then again, Dispatch just sold out three nights at Madison Square Garden, so what does that tell you?

THE SHINS - WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY. Critically acclaimed, their third record is certainly their strongest to date. A little less lo-fi and a little more grownup, the melodies are strong and the arrangements are clever, but not too clever.

TWILIGHT SINGERS - STITCH IN TIME. A 5 song EP from one of our favorite rock bands, with guest appearances by Joseph Arthur and Mark Lanegan.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - THE GOLDEN AGE OF ELEKTRA RECORDS (BOX SET). A 5 CD compilation from what David Fricke calls "the greatest rock n' roll label ever." We'd like to call this new set a 5 CD compilation from "one of the greatest rock n' roll labels ever, and also a very good folk label." This has it all -- Tim Buckley, Phil Ochs, The Doors, Love, Queen, Judy Collins, Paul Butterfield, and last but not least, Bread. You wouldn't know it from what we just wrote, but it really is a damn good compilation.

THE WALKMEN - PUSSY CATS. We love Harry Nilsson, and we like the Pussy Cats album, and we don't really like the Walkmen. But why the hell would someone choose the ninth best Nilsson album as a cover project? Future projects by the Walkmen include re-recording Neil Young's Everybody's Rockin', Bob Dylan's Knocked Out Loaded, Frank Sinatra's Watertown, and the Doors' Other Voices.

PAUL WELLER - HIT PARADE (BOX SET and SINGLE CD). The US versions of these fine career-spanning compilations are now available at a more affordable price from the supercool Yep Roc label. If you need to be reminded, the single disc is a career-spanning best-of, while the box set devotes a disc to each phase of his career -- one for the Jam, one for the Style Council, and two to his solo career. Highly recommended.

TONY'S PICK OF THE WEEK!

YOU AM I - CONVICTS. Released in Australia last year, this excellent, punky power pop album is finally being released Stateside. Some damn fine high energy rock n' roll. Think late '60s Who crossed with early Jam, plus a smidgen of the Replacements.

JOHN HAMMOND - PUSH COMES TO SHOVE. The last few John Hammond records have been good, solid blues records with a modern sound, but this new one, produced by G. Love, gives Hammond his best record in years. It doesn't stray far from the gritty grooves of his previous records, yet something about it makes it more appealing. It could just be that G. Love has inspired Mr. Hammond. Highly recommended. Only in theaters!

SONNY ROLLINS - SONNY, PLEASE. We've read almost nothing but positive reviews of Rollins' first studio album in five years. The one so-so review is the one that we most agree with. There's nothing wrong with Sonny's playing -- there never has been. It just seems like the musicians backing him are kind of sleepwalking through the arrangements, and the production is borderline amateurish. But don't forget, anything new from Mr. Rollins is worth your time.

SOUNDTRACK - BILLY STRAYHORN: LUSH LIFE. Music from the PBS special about the brilliant songwriter and arranger, featuring performances by various combinations of Joe Lovano, Hank Jones, Paul Motian, Bill Charlap, Dianne Reeves, and Elvis Costello. Nice stuff! Highly recommended. Only in theaters!

ORDER ANY OR ALL OF THESE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED NEW RELEASES (OR ANY OLD STUFF YOU MIGHT WANT TO PICK UP) FROM US! EMAIL HEYNYCD@AOL.COM OR CALL (212) 244-3460!

URGENT!!!!

The dog days of January are almost over. Come on people! SELL US YOUR CDs AND DVDs! KEEP US IN BUSINESS! How many other emails do you get begging you to go somewhere and get money?

CHECK OUT our five part series "THE PASSION OF THE CRANKS," parts 1, 2 & 3 of which are already posted, along with a public bitch-slapping of Sal and his opinion by our loyal readers!

COMING SOON:

New releases from LUCINDA WILLIAMS (wait till you hear this one -- wow!), FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE, WILCO, HOLLY COLE, and two from HARRY CONNICK, JR., as well as the long-awaited expanded remasters of the SLY & THE FAMILY STONE catalog.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

How many blues guitarists does it take to change a light bulb?

4.

Your friends,
Elysian & Totie Fields