NewBeats

photo by David Chiu

A New York City building that was home to many hit songwriters from the 1960s, including Neil Diamond, Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and Neil Sedaka, has now been officially called a city landmark.

The Brill Building, located on 1619 Broadway in Times Square, was one of several structures in the five boroughs that were named landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Committee last Tuesday. View full article »

Amy Farris R.I.P.
By David Chiu

I was shocked to find out last month on the Internet that Amy Farris, a Los Angeles-based singer and fiddle player, died on Sept. 26 at age 40. (The Los Angeles Times recently reported that her death was ruled a suicide by the county coroner’s office). Farris has played with the likes of Exene Cervenka, Brian Wilson, Kelly Willis, Alejandro Escovedo and Bruce Robison. In 2004, she released her only album Anyway, which was produced by the Blasters’ Dave Alvin. Most recently, Farris was a member of Alvin’s latest group the Guilty Women, which put out an album earlier this year.

On Farris’ Web site, her family requests that instead of flowers, donations should be made to Hungry For Music, a nonprofit organization that gives musical instruments to underprivileged children.

Five years ago, I interviewed Farris for NewBeats.com, in which she spoke about the record, her life and influences. She cited the Los Angeles punk band X as a favorite and even covered their song “Poor Girl” on her album. She once said about being her own artist after playing the role of a side musician for others: “It feels great. I knew I wanted to do it for a long time but for one reason or another it’s taken me to have the confidence and finances and everything else together. Now it feels wonderful.”

You can read my interview with Farris from 2004 here.

Photo by Loren Minnick

photo by Carol Lipnik

Greta Gertler, an Australian singer-songwriter in Brooklyn, is currently raising funds to finance her upcoming new record The Universal Thump. So far she has raised $7,370 out of a $15,000 goal that she has to meet by Dec. 9. Gertler and her band will be mounting a benefit concert at The Living Room in NYC on Dec. 7. For information visit
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/GretaGertler/
the-universal-thump-the-new-album-by-greta-ger

Photo by Carol Lipnik

Reprise Records just announced today the upcoming release of a new Neil Young live album from its Archives series to be relased on Dec. 8. Called Dreamin’ Man Live ’92, this album is a collection of acoustic solo performances dating back to the release of Young’s Harvest Moon.

Tracklisting is below:

Dreamin’ Man
Such A Woman
One Of These Days
Harvest Moon
You And Me
Hank To Hendrix
Unknown Legend
Old King
Natural Beauty
War Of Man

Source: Reprise Records press release

Sharon Van Etten is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter who a few months ago released her debut album Because I Was In Love. If you like haunting yet graceful folk pop music, and live in the New York City area, check out her upcoming show at Joe’s Pub this Friday Sept. 4. Van Etten will also be at the Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sept. 27 and 28 respectively. For more information visit www.sharonvanetten.com or www.myspace.com/sharonvanetten.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Van Etten’s MySpace page.

Bob Dylan is issuing Christmas in the Heart on Oct. 13, according to Columbia Records. The collection will feature songs such as “Must Be Santa, “Winter Wonderland,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” and “Little Drummer Boy.” All future royalties from the album’s sales will go to Feeding America.

“It’s a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone — 12 million of those children – often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from,” said Dylan in a press release announcing the album. “I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season.”

Cover artwork for the new album is below.

Source: Columbia Records, bobdylan.com

The final tracklisting for the upcoming Queen compilation, Absolute Greatest, has just been released today. As part of a daily contest on the band’s Web site that had ran in the last couple of weeks, fans guessed which song would make it on the single disc 20-track collection for prizes. Fittingly “Bohemian Rhapsody” was the 20th and last song on this compilation.

The tracks on Absolute Greatest are as follows:

1. We Will Rock You
2. We Are The Champions
3. Radio Ga Ga
4. Another One Bites The Dust
5. I Want It All
6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
7. A Kind Of Magic
8. Under Pressure
9. One Vision
10. You’re My Best Friend
11. Don’t Stop Me Now
12. Killer Queen
13. These Are The Days Of Our Lives
14. Who Wants To Live Forever
15. Seven Seas Of Rhye
16. Heaven For Everyone
17. Somebody To Love
18. I Want To Break Free
19. The Show Must Go On
20. Bohemian Rhapsody

Has it been that long ago–25 years of Madonna music? This latest Madonna compilation, Celebration, chronicles a period of hits and memorable songs. Warner Bros. announced in a press release today that the release of the aforementioned 2-CD package will be on Sept. 29 in the U.S. The collection will also feature two new songs, including the title track, co-produced by Madonna and Paul Oakenfold.