This autumn sees the release of two new albums from The Black Crowes. Before The Frost and its companion free album Until The Freeze have a 1 September release date in the US.

Fans who buy Before The Frost will receive a download code for a free second album, Until The Freeze. The band claim that this free download is a way of thanking fans for their enduring support.

Refreshingly, in this era of epic recording schedules, the albums were recorded in just five nights, at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, New York.

Before The Frost features 11 tracks, including Good Morning Captain and I Aint Hiding. The second, free, album features eight original tracks as well as a cover of So Many Times by Stephen Stills.

Source musicradar

Guitar legend Jeff Beck is grateful he turned down an invitation to join The Rolling Stones - because he would have died an early death if he had partied alongside Sir Mick Jagger.

The rocker auditioned to become part of the band after former Stone Mick Taylor bowed out in the 1970s.

Beck insists he was tempted to join the Satisfaction group - but he was turned off by their rock 'n' roll lifestyle of excess.

And he believes the decision to turn away from drinking and sex to concentrate on his music saved his life.

He explains, "I had this flash that said, 'Don't do it, you'll never get on with Mick and Keith musically because you're heading in a different direction'. There's the thing. There's the crossroads.

"If I'd turned left I'd have been a multi-millionaire Rolling Stone - and dead. On the right I'm here, thank you. Not that I wouldn't want to experience some of the things that went on with them but I was into speed and detail and gung-ho playing - and the way they were drinking I just don't think it would have worked.

"I thought, 'This is a life of booze and women. Who needs that?' So I caught the next plane out."

Source Post Chronicle

Barry Beckett, a keyboardist and producer who worked with artists ranging from Dire Straits to Kenny Chesney, died overnight Wednesday (June 10) at his home in Hendersonville, Tenn., following a lengthy illness.

He was 66. Beckett was a keyboardist with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the legendary session ensemble at Rick Hall's Fame Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala. Fondly referred to as the Swampers, the band was immortalized in the lyrics of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama." Beckett's playing is featured on hits such as the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" and Paul Simon's "Kodachrome." His production credits include Alabama's "If I Had You" (a No. 1 hit in 1989) and Kenny Chesney's "When I Close My Eyes" (which spent two weeks at No. 2 in 1996). He also supervised the sessions for "There's a Tear in My Beer," which featured Hank Williams Jr. adding his late father's vocal from a demo recording. A Top 10 hit in 1989, the track won a Grammy for country vocal collaboration and a CMA Award for vocal event of the year.

Beckett produced sessions for Neal McCoy, Lorrie Morgan, T. Graham Brown, Confederate Railroad and Delbert McClinton. However, he is most famous for his production work on Dire Strait's Communiqué, Bob Seger's Night Moves and Stranger in Town and Bob Dylan's Dylan, Slow Train Coming and Saved.

.Source CMT

Brad Paisley will be digitally releasing four songs from his upcoming album, American Saturday Night, in advance of its June 30 street date. The album's lead single, "Then," is already available as a digital single. Meanwhile, "Water" was released Tuesday (June 9) and will be followed by "American Saturday Night" on June 16 and "Everybody's Here" on June 23. Each track purchased will count toward the purchase of the full album through iTunes' Complete My Album feature.

Source music-news

Brad Paisley will be digitally releasing four songs from his upcoming album, American Saturday Night, in advance of its June 30 street date.

The album's lead single, "Then," is already available as a digital single. Meanwhile, "Water" was released Tuesday (June 9) and will be followed by "American Saturday Night" on June 16 and "Everybody's Here" on June 23. Each track purchased will count toward the purchase of the full album through iTunes' Complete My Album feature.

Source CMT

The Specials continue their 30th Anniversary celebrations with the announcement of the final dates of their tour. The band kick off another set of shows on 1st November in Cardiff and continue around the country for the month.

Their earlier dates in April and May of this year sold out in record time, and received spectacular reactions and reviews, with every venue on the tour packed to the rafters and the band’s classic tracks sounding 'eerily relevant’ to the current times according to The Independent On Sunday. With The Daily Telegraph praising 'one of the greatest live bands this country has ever produced’ and The Evening Standard acclaiming a band 'spectacularly and life affirmingly reborn’, the second leg of the tour sees the band visit those concert halls that missed out on the first leg before a return to London for two massive nights at the Hammersmith Apollo to follow their five sold out night’s at Brixton.

'nothing ever change' Do Nothing – The Specials

This is a second chance to see one of the UK’s finest ever acts, dates are as follows:

Live in 2009:
1 November, CARDIFF, Arena - 02920 224488
2 November, BRIDLINGTON, Spa - 01262 678258
4 November, BLACKPOOL, Empress Ballroom - 0871 2200 260
5 November, PLYMOUTH, Pavilion - 0845 1461460
7 November, MARGATE, Winter Gardens - 01843 292 795
9 November, WOLVERHAMPTON, Civic - 0870 320 7000
12 November, EDINBURGH, Corn Exchange - 08444 999 990
18 November, SOUTHEND, Cliffs Pavilion - 01702 351135
19 November, BRIGHTON, Centre - 0844 847 1515
21 November, NOTTINGHAM, Rock City - 08713 100000
22 November, NOTTINGHAM, Rock City - 08713 100000
24 November, LONDON, Hammersmith Apollo - 08448 444748
25 November, LONDON, Hammersmith Apollo - 08448 444748

Tickets go on sale 9am Friday 12th June priced £32.50 in advance except London £35.
24 hr CC Hotline: 0871 2200 260 / online: www.gigsandtours.com

Source music-news