While prepping yet another reissue of The Doors’ amazing final album “LA Woman,” for its 40th anniversary, a newly discovered studio outtake called “She Smells So Nice” was unearthed. The 40th anniversary edition of “LA Woman” is scheduled for release in January 2012. A small sample has been making the rounds on line and it sounds more like a jam session excerpt than a proper song, but hell, since us Doors die hards are going to have to buy this album again (ugh!), at least there will be something fans haven’t heard before included. There are rumours circulating that alternate takes of some LA Woman songs that have never been heard before have also been unearthed, so here’s hoping!
People still laugh about my one-on-one encounter with the legendary singer Joni Mitchell, so in honor of her birthday, here’s the story. Joni was attending a birthday party for another icon, Milton Berle, during the 1990s and when I spoke with her, I had the chance to ask her any question. Did I speak to her about her legendary songs such as “Big Yellow Taxi,” “A Case of You” or “Help Me”? Nope! Instead, I asked her about a unreleased song penned by Prince that he wrote for her. The song is called “Emotional Pump.” I asked if it was ever recorded and Joni told me, “I love Prince, but frankly I am too old to run around on stage in lingerie.” I am taking that to mean “no, the song was not recorded.” Happy birthday Joni!
Finally, some good news about Amy Winehouse. A collection of previously unreleased songs entitled “Lioness: Hidden Treasures” will be released on December 5, 2011. According to her official site, here’s the track list and some notes about the songs:
“Our Day Will Come(Reggae Version)” – reggae re-working of classic 60’s doo wop song produced by Salaam Remi. Recorded May 2002.
“Between The Cheats” – new Amy composition recorded in London in May 2008 for potential inclusion on album three produced by Salaam Remi.
“Tears Dry” – originally written by Amy as a ballad, this is the original version she recorded in November 2005 in Miami with Salaam. The later uptempo version appears on “Back To Black”.
“Wake Up Alone” – the first song recorded for the “Back To Black” sessions. This is the one-take demo recorded in March 2006 by Paul O’Duffy.
“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” – Amy’s beautiful reading of the Carole King written Shirelles classic. Produced by Mark Ronson and featuring the Dap Kings with string arrangements by Chris Elliott who did all the strings for Mark’s tracks on “Back To Black”. Recorded in September 2004.
“Valerie” - one of Amy’s jukebox favourites. This is the original slower tempo version of the Mark Ronson produced post “Back To Black” single. Recorded in December 2006.
“Like Smoke” featuring NAS – Amy and Nas became really good friends after Amy name checked the New York rapper on “Back To Black’s” “Me & Mr Jones”. “Like Smoke” is finally Amy doing a song with one of her favourite artists. Produced by Salaam Remi. Recorded in May 2008.
“The Girl From Ipanema” – the first song the 18 year old Amy sang when she first went to Miami to record with Salaam. Salaam remarked that “the way she re-interpreted this bossa nova classic made me realise that I was dealing with a very special talent. Her approach to the song was so young and fresh, it really inspired the rest of our sessions.” Recorded in May 2002.
“Halftime” -Amy had talked to Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson of the Roots about working together. “Halftime” is a song that Amy and Salaam had worked on since the Frank sessions. The result is beautiful. Recorded in August 2002.
“Best Friends” – “Frank” era live set opener produced by Salaam Remi. Probably the first song that early Amy fans would have heard live. Recorded in February 2003.
“Body & Soul” with Tony Bennett - cover of 30’s jazz standard with hero Tony Bennett. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios London in March 2011 and produced by Phil Ramone. Amy’s final studio recording.
“A Song For You” - heartbreaking and emotional version of the Leon Russell classic made famous by Donny Hathaway. Hathaway was Amy’s all-time favourite artist and the song was recorded in one take, just Amy and her guitar, at her home in London during the spring of 2009 as she battled her demons. Produced by Salaam Remi.
Have you ever wanted to sing “I want to fuck… you baby” in a concert setting? Luckily for me, Van Hunt has made that dream a reality. The master of psychedelic soul performed “The Lowest 1 of My Desires,” from his unreleased album “Popular” at the Studio at Webster Hall on September 19, 2011 and the show was fantastic. This was the closing song of the night. Enjoy!
In case you missed this great news, here’s some details on what will be included in U2′s deluxe reissue of their best album, “Achtung Baby”:
An Uber Deluxe Edition will be the most elaborate (and expensive) version of the set, will include all of the following in a numbered magnetic puzzle-tiled box:
• Six CDs including Achtung Baby and its 1993 follow up Zooropa, plus discs featuring B sides, outtakes and reworked versions of unheard material from the Achtung sessions
• Four DVDs including ZOO TV: Live From Sydney, the new documentary From the Sky Down and all of the music videos from the period
• Five clear 7-inch singles in replicas of their original packaging
• 16 art prints from the original album sleeve
• 84-page hardback book
• One issue of Propaganda fanclub magazine
• Four badges
• One sticker sheet
• One replica of Bono’s “The Fly” sunglasses
Achtung Baby will also be reissued as a vinyl box set featuring the album along with two translucent blue vinyl disc featuring B sides and remixes and a double-disc CD with a bonus disc of B sides and rarities. A remastered version without extras will also be released.
The final tracklists or release dates have not been released yet either, so it’ll be curious to compare those against a bootleg that has circulated for nearly 2 decades in perfect quality. That track list is:
CD1:
01 – Salome (5:47)
02 – Where Did it All Go Wrong? (3:58)
03 – Where Did it All Go Wrong? (3:40)
04 – Heaven and Hell (6:44)
05 – Doctor Doctor (2:36)
06 – Jitterbug Baby (3:56)
07 – Salome (9:15)
08 – Salome (5:34)
09 – Sunset In Colors/Chances Away (14:53)
10 – Chances Away (1:41)
11 – I Feel Free (6:32)
12 – I Feel Free (4:31)
CD2:
13 – Sweet Baby Jane (2:04)
14 – Morning Child/Dont Turn Around (5:32)
15 – Morning Child/Dont Turn Around (4:01)
16 – Morning Child/Dont Turn Around (5:07)
17 – Take Today (instrumental) (6:28)
18 – Even Better Than The Real… (4:50)
19 – She’s Gonna Turn Your Head… (7:41)
20 – She’s Gonna Turn Your Head… (7:38)
21 – Back Mask U2 (5:32)
22 – She’s Gonna Turn Your Head… (7:36)
23 – Take Today (vocals) (6:31)
CD3:
24 – Someone (1:07)
25 – Back Mask U2 (3:11)
26 – Acrobat (4:17)
27 – Salome (5:51)
28 – Morning Child/Dont Turn Around (5:07)
29 – Take You Down (5:18)
30 – Going Down South (5:34)
31 – Salome (3:51)
32 – Salome (13:06)
33 – Salome (6:00)
34 – Salome (8:00)
35 – Salome (12:02)
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