Showing posts with label 80s icons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 80s icons. Show all posts

Monday, November 12, 2018

John Mellencamp Announces His 24th Album, Other People's Stuff - Available December 7th






Not only has
MELLENCAMP released hundreds of original songs over his illustrious career, but he has recorded numerous celebrated covers. For as renowned as his original material remains, MELLENCAMP has breathed new life and spirit into various staples of the classic American musical canon as well. A handpicked selection of those covers comprises the aptly titled, Other People’s Stuff.

Culled from seminal albums, compilations, unearthed sessions and documentaries, this record serves as a proud homage to some of the greatest songs in history. For the album, Mellencamp recorded a brand-new version of
“Eyes on the Prize” which was originally performed at The White House. Mellencamp was asked by the Obama administration to perform for the 2010 Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement event. See link to the memorable performance here. Check out “Eyes on The Prize” Here.

About the collection,
MELLENCAMP commented “Most, if not all, of the songs on Other People’s Stuff come from The Great American Songbook.  These are songs that have been recorded over the last 40 years of my career, but had never been put together as one piece of work. Now, they have.”

Check out the full tracklisting below.

The new album sets the stage for his 2019 tour of
“The John Mellencamp Show,” which will feature the rock icon’s classics plus some new material. Hailed by critics and fans alike as one of music’s most authentic and crowd-pleasing concert performer, he kicks off the tour February 7th in his home state of Indiana at South Bend’s Morris Performing Arts Center. Yesterday, Mellencamp announced additional dates for the tour which will extend the already lengthy 2019 run with 14 additional shows, making stops across the country. Tickets for most dates will go on sale on Friday, November 9th at 10am local time (see full onsale times below). Produced by AEG Presents, “The John Mellencamp Show” will start promptly at 8pm and will not have an opening act.  Every ticket purchased online will receive a physical copy of Other People’s Stuff.

For more information and all ticketing information please visit 
Mellencamp.com.

MELLENCAMP’s live shows have garnered huge critical acclaim with the Hollywood Reporter calling it a “triumphant, career-spanning show” and a “superb performance…still full of fiery defiance” by the Boston Globe.  His extensive touring and live shows have solidified the Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer’s place at the forefront of American music for the past 40 years.

Other People’s Stuff TRACKLISTING:
  1. “To The River” (originally from 1993’s Human Wheels)
  2. “Gambling Bar Room Blues” (originally from 1997’s The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers – A Tribute)
  3. “Teardrops Will Fall” (originally from 2003’s Trouble No More)
  4. “In My Time of Dying” (originally from 1997’s Rough Harvest)
  5. “Mobile Blue” (originally from 2017’s Sad Clowns & Hillbillies)
  6. “Eyes on the Prize” (originally performed at The White House in 2010)
  7. “Dark As A Dungeon (originally from the 2017 National Geographic Channel documentary From the Ashes)
  8. “Stones in My Passway” (originally from 2003’s Trouble No More)
  9. “Wreck of the Old 97” (originally from 2004’s The Rose and The Briar)
  10. “I Don’t Know Why I Love You” (originally from 2003’s An Interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s Songs)

“THE JOHN MELLENCAM SHOW” 2019 TOUR DATES
Date
City
Venue
February 7, 2019
South Bend, IN
Morris Performing Arts Center
February 8, 2019
Milwaukee, WI
Riverside Theatre
February 10, 2019
Cincinnati, OH
Aronoff Center for the Arts
February 12, 2019
Fort Wayne, IN
Embassy Theatre
February 14, 2019
Rockford, IL
Coronado Performing Arts Center
February 15, 2019
Peoria, IL
Peoria Civic Center
February 17, 2019
Grand Rapids, MI
DeVos Performance Hall
February 19, 2019
Youngstown, OH
Stambaugh Auditorium
February 20, 2019
Baltimore, MD
Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric
February 22, 2019
Providence, RI
Providence Performing Arts Center
February 23, 2019
New Brunswick, NJ
State Theatre New Jersey
February 25, 2019
New York, NY
Beacon Theatre
February 26, 2019
New York, NY
Beacon Theatre
February 27 2019
New York, NY
Beacon Theatre
March 9, 2019
Louisville, KY
Louisville Palace Theatre
March 10, 2019
Evansville, IN
Aiken Theatre
March 12, 2019
St. Louis, MO
Stifel Theatre
March 14, 2019
Kansas City, MO
Arvest Bank Theatre At The Midland
March 16, 2019
Tulsa, OK
Brady Theatre
March 17, 2019
Memphis, MO
Orpheum Theatre
March 19, 2019
Nashville, TN
Ryman Auditorium
March 20, 2019
Nashville, TN
Ryman Auditorium
March 22, 2019
Charlotte, NC
Ovens Auditorium
March 24, 2019
Orlando, FL
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
March 27, 2019
Ft. Meyers, FL
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
March 29, 2019
Clearwater, FL
Ruth Eckerd Hall
March 30, 2019
Clearwater, FL
Ruth Eckerd Hall
April 9, 2019
Kalamazoo, MI
Miller Auditorium*
April 11th, 2019
Saginaw, MI
The Dow Event Center Theater*
April 13, 2019
Green Bay, WI
Weidner Center^
April 15, 2019
Omaha, NE
Orpheum Theatre*
April 16, 2019
Wichita, KS
Century II Convention Center*
April 18, 2019
Rapid City, SD
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theatre*
April 20, 2019
Spokane, WA
First Interstate Center for the Arts*
April 22, 2019
Eugene, OR
Hult Center for the Performing Arts*
April 23, 2019
Portland, OR
Portland Center for the Performing Arts*
April 25, 2019
Oakland, CA
Paramount Theatre*
April 26, 2019
Santa Barbara, CA
Arlington Theatre*
April 28, 2019
Tucson, AZ
Tucson Music Hall*
April 20, 2019
Albuquerque, NM
Kiva Auditorium*

*On sale Friday, November 9th at 10am local time
^On sale Friday, November 9th at 11am local time

Monday, February 26, 2018

The Greatest Album Is...Crack A Smile



Every band that has been around for a while and released great records runs into this debate; what is their greatest album? The greatest album is… is a column dedicated to tackling that age old question. What is the greatest album recorded by Poison? Join with us now as the question is answered and arguments are made that the greatest Poison album is Crack A Smile.  


When Poison went to record their fifth studio album, Crack A Smile, they were at a crossroads. Long gone was original guitarist C.C. DeVille. His replacement, Richie Kotzen had been fired from the band after it was discovered he was having an affair with drummer Rikki Rockett’s fiancĂ©. Blues Saraceno came in and took over lead guitar duties. Glam was a dying musical genre, and while their previous album Native Tongue had decent sales numbers, they paled in comparison to the first three Poison records. The band had also changed their musical style from glam slam party jams, to socio-political blues rock. It was a huge change that fans had a hard time accepting. So, when Poison went into the studio to record Crack A Smile everything was conspiring against them. They had to make a hit record or their career could be over.

There are very few Poison fans that would choose Crack A Smile as the band’s greatest album. It wasn’t recorded with beloved guitarist C.C. DeVille. It was released five years after it was finished and the band had moved on from those songs. There are no concert staples contained on the record because none of the songs have ever been played live. It’s hard for fans to even know this album, let alone embrace it as the best. Yet, once the album has been consumed a few times, the beauty of the record clearly comes into focus.

Crack A Smile showed that Poison was going back to their party style of glam metal, leaving the seriousness of Native Tongue in the past. Returning to their roots paid big dividends musically. Poison was loose and fun on this record, having a party with their music, and they produced songs that are as classic as any material from their first three records. Except for the cover of the Dr. Hook hit “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” the entire band wrote every song for this release together. And it is that band unity that makes these songs so strong, focused, and fun.

Sexually charged fantasy songs are plentiful with “Best Thing You Ever Had,” “Shut Up, Make Love,” “Baby Gets Around A Bit,” and “Sexual Thing.” All these songs focus on the theme of being used just for sex and that is not portrayed as a negative. It’s taken more tongue in cheek and shows the humorous side of a man being used just for his body. Every boy’s fantasy. Poison hit the mark with songs like these and if Crack A Smile was released in 1987 these all would have been top ten hits.  

Power ballads are also accounted for with “Be The One,” and “Lay Your Body Down.” Poison reminds everyone how power ballads are done with both these songs. They are magnificent beauties that show the ability to write majestic slow jams. And while neither song is as grand as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” both are amazing in their own right.

“Lay Your Body Down” was even released on the band’s greatest hits record, which ironically came out before Crack A Smile. “Lay Your Body Down” is the stronger of the two with some of the best lyrics the band has ever crafted. The opening lines of “I spend my life waiting for that famous final scene…I believe you know the one…where she falls in love with me” are just fantastic! It’s great artistic writing, painting a scene and setting up the rest of what is to come. “Lay Your Body Down” could give “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” a challenge for best Poison ballad. And while it probably wouldn’t win it would be a close race. “Lay Your Body Down” is stunning.

One of Poison’s best songs is also included on Crack A Smile. “No Ring, No Gets” is a tremendous, light hearted, humorous track that has fun with a serious topic. Blues Saraceno shows off his skills with the solo and the beat of this tune make it a great sing along song. “No Ring, No Gets” would have been a huge concert staple if it was recorded at a different time in the bands career. As it is, Poison should consider adding this gem to their set for upcoming tours. Even the fans who don’t know the song would fall in love with it after one listen.

Crack A Smile is the best work Poison ever recorded and that level of talent would carry over for the studio songs that were included on Power To The People. Even with a new guitarist, Poison was at the top of the mountain with Crack A Smile. If this album had been released at an earlier time in the band’s career it would be as beloved as their first three records are. Unfortunately, Crack A Smile suffered from poor timing and genre preference changes. Thus, it is a record that not a lot of fans know about, and the ones that do are die-hards only. The casual fan has never heard Crack A Smile and that’s the real shame.

The greatest album is…Crack A Smile.

Vital Statistics
Release Date: March 14, 2000
Produced By: John Purdell and Duane Baron
RIAA Sales: Did not receive certification
Peak Position on the US Charts: 131
The album was recorded in 1994 and 1995 but put “on hold” by Capitol records. It would finally be released in 2000 with bonus tracks, due to fan demand.
“Sexual Thing” and “Lay Your Body Down” were previously released on Poison’s greatest hits album.
No song from this record has ever been played live by Poison.

Singles
Shut Up, Make Love
Be the One

Track Listing
Best Thing You Ever Had
Shut Up, Make Love
Baby Gets Around A Bit
Cover of the Rolling Stone
Be The One
Mr. Smiley
Sexual Thing
Lay Your Body Down
No Ring, No Gets
That’s the Way I Like It
Tragically Unhip
Doin’ As I See on My TV

Band Members
Bret Michaels – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards
Rikki Rockett -drums, percussion
Bobby Dall – bass, backing vocals
Blues Saraceno – lead guitar, piano, backing vocals