EMI Music/Vector Recordings is set to release the highly anticipated recording Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration on March 31. The album features performances by 3 Doors Down, Al Green, Patty Griffin, Heather Headley, Jon Bon Jovi, Jonny Lang, Queen Latifah, Joss Stone with Buick Audra and many more (see below for full track listing). For the project, these world-renowned musicians collaborated with Gospel artists and several of today’s top Gospel Choirs to record renditions of some of the most loved and recognizable inspirational songs. It’s been said you don’t just hear gospel music you feel it. It’s woven through the fabric of the American spirit and history and its influence can be felt and heard around the world today and in the background of many of today’s most talented artists and musicians.
The album’s concept resulted from a close partnership between EMI Gospel and Vector Recordings and was produced by Ken Levitan, Bill Hearn, Jack Rovner, Ken Pennell, Drew & Shannon, Johnny K, Sanchez Harley, Obie O’Brien, Keith Thomas, Tommy Sims, Cedric Thompson, Simon Climie, Michael McDonald, Joss Stone and Buick Audra. Of the project, Bill Hearn, CEO of EMI Christian Music Group comments, “We wanted to create an album that honored the legacy of gospel music—it’s the backbone of the American spirit—but also create unique artist pairings that fans could find no where else.” Vector’s Ken Levitan adds, “Gospel music has always been not only spiritually and musically uplifting but also a great American art form. With this project we’ve taken artists who have been successful in other genres and combined them with this great art form to create new powerful music.”
While recording the record at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, Jonny Lang notes, “(Gospel music) is really all I’ve been listening to for the last few years…it’s my favorite form of music…at least for now…” Lang goes on to say, “it’s such an honor to record with the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers, their very first take on the song just blew me away. They’re such pros…quite an honor…” Additionally, Heather Headley comments, “It’s not everyday that you get the opportunity to revisit a classic song like “People Get Ready,” record it with a great producer like Keith Thomas, and sing alongside a legend such as Rev. Al Green. It really was a pleasure, and I had a great time doing it.”
Track Listing:
1. Jonny Lang & the Fisk Jubilee Singers “I Believe”
2. 3 Doors Down & the Soul Children of Chicago “Presence of the Lord”
3. Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters “Higher Ground”
4. Jon Bon Jovi & the Washington Youth Choir “Keep the Faith”
5. Al Green & Heather Headley “People Get Ready”
6. Mavis Staples & Patty Griffin “Waiting for My Child To Come Home”
7. Michael McDonald & the West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir “Storm Before The Calm”
8. Angelique Kidjo “Redemption Song”
9. Aaron Neville & the Mt. Zion Mass Choir “A Change is Gonna Come”
10. Queen Latifah & Jubilation “Oh Happy Day”
11. Joss Stone & Buick Audra “This Little Light Of Mine”
More than just the words on the walls, Hard Rock International has remained true to its motto – “LOVE ALL” by continuing its pledge to serve others – since the company’s founding in 1971. Hard Rock is proud to announce the launch of The 2008 Global “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign to benefit WHY, a nonprofit organization that finds innovative solutions to hunger and poverty around the Globe. Hard Rock’s SERVE3 benefit compilation features new, never-before-released or rare tracks by a unique blend of major multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning and acclaimed recording artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Joss Stone, Avril Lavigne, Starsailor, My Morning Jacket and more. Setting the foundation for “Imagine There’s No Hunger,” artist and musician Yoko Ono has graciously donated her late husband John Lennon’s inspirational song “Give Peace A Chance.” With the exception of this classic, the songs on SERVE3 are new, electric or acoustic, and reflect the generosity of the artists that donated them to the project on behalf of serving those in need. SERVE3 will be available at select Hard Rock locations around the world and www.hardrock.com beginning November 4, 2008, with downloads available at digital retailers.
Download and Share Toby Lightman’s “Color” From SERVE3
Tracklisting For SERVE3:
1. Remember When The Music - performer - Bruce Springsteen
2. Love Has Made You Beautiful - performer - Joss Stone
3. Look At You (Jim’s Electronic Version) - performer - My Morning Jacket
4. When You’re Gone (Live From Toronto, Best Damn Tour) - performer - Avril Lavigne
5. Diane (Live From Bonnaroo) - performer - Robert Randolph & The Family Band
6. Complete Control - performer - The Charlatans
7. People Get Ready - performer - Ryan Shaw
8. Keep Coming Back (Live From Nashville) - performer - Marc Broussard
9. Military Madness (Graham Nash Cover) - performer - Starsailor
10. Mother Earth - performer - Micki Free
11. I Be Rockin’ It - performer - DMC
12. I Know It’s Over (The Smith’s Cover) - performer - The Chapin Sisters
13. Give Peace a Chance - performer - John Lennon
14. On A Night Like This - performer - Dave Barnes
15. Color - performer - Toby Lightman
16. Becoming (Remixed) - performer - Brilliant Mistakes
17. I Hope You’re Upset - performer - Middle Distance Runner
18. Heaven - performer - Scott Barnhill
19. Time - performer - Lisa Bouchelle
20. Jew Said Grace - performer - The Dead Tree
About WHY:
For more information, visit www.worldhungeryear.org.
Its nice to see these guys getting so much love!
Boston-based band, Dispatch, will release to DVD “Dispatch: Zimbabwe – Live at Madison Square Garden”, a concert film exploring the trio’s on-going efforts to raise money for the frightening situation in Zimbabwe. Set for a January 29, 2008 DVD release through self-owned Bomber Records (in partnership with AEG Network Live and VDI Entertainment), “Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden“ was directed by renowned photographer Danny Clinch and filmed around the band’s three-night sold out run at New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden in July.
The release will include 2 hours of live concert footage and behind the scenes interviews plus an exclusive 30-minute documentary on the devastation in the African country. “Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden” will be sold in eco-friendly recycled packaging and come with a ten-song companion CD of the band’s favorite performances from the reunion dates. Inserted in each package will be a DropCard, allowing fans to download audio from “Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden.” Technical pioneer Brett Eliason who was responsible for Pearl Jam’s landmark official bootleg programs mixed the recordings.
Applauded by Rolling Stone Magazine, Spin, MTV, The New York Times, Esquire, The Boston Globe and the Associated Press, among many others, Dispatch donated 100% of the net profits from the “Dispatch” Zimbabwe” concerts to their recently founded Dispatch Foundation, earmarking the funds towards fighting disease, famine, and social injustice in the poverty stricken Zimbabwe. A portion of the net proceeds from “Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden,” will also be donated to the Dispatch Foundation and its efforts in Zimbabwe. For more information, check out dispatchmusic.com and dispatchfoundation.org.
Known as the band that redefined independent music history, the members of Dispatch released album after album on their own label, rising up without the assistance of a major record label and selling over 600,000 albums. Dispatch became pioneers, making their reputation largely by touring, word-of-mouth and file sharing. The three nights at MSG, marked the band’s first appearances together since their 2004 farewell show, which drew more than 110,000 fans from 25 countries, making it the largest independent music event in history. Coming together for a cause that’s greater than anything that drew them apart, Dispatch: Zimbabwe not only raised funds to alleviate suffering in Zimbabwe, but also marked the first time an independent band sold out Madison Square Garden.
“DISPATCH: ZIMBABWE - Live at Madison Square Garden“ Setlist:
Here We Go
Time Served
Whaddya Wannabe
Open Up
Bulletholes
Bang Bang (with the African Children’s Choir)
Ride A Tear
Passerby
Flying Horses (with Bongo Love)
Past The Falls
Fallin’
Lightning
Steeples (from Wimpy)
Questioned Apocalypse (from Wimpy)
Cut It Ya Match It
Bats In The Belfry
Elias (with the African Children’s Choir)
Outloud (with the African Children’s Choir)
General
EXTRAS:
War (w/ Bongo Love)
Camilo
Customs
Carnival
Bonus material include outtakes, interviews, and a 30 –minute documentary on Zimbabwe.
Orlando, Fla., October 9, 2007 – Hard Rock International differentiates itself with Rock, but philanthropy is the company’s soul. Hard Rock has remained true to its “Love All, Serve All” creed since the company’s founding in 1971 – a motto that can be heard or seen at every Hard Rock location around the world. Continuing its pledge to serving others, Hard Rock is proud to announce the launch of SERVE2 – a benefit compilation CD, featuring previously unreleased tracks from some of music’s most influential artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall and more – to benefit WHY (World Hunger Year), a nonprofit organization that strives to fight against hunger and poverty in America and around the world. All net proceeds from SERVE2 will be donated directly towards Artists Against Hunger & Poverty (AAHP), a special artist-directed program of WHY – for which, Hard Rock has proudly raised more than $1 million to date.
Joining Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and others in the fight against hunger and poverty, the SERVE2 CD features never-before-released tracks by a unique blend of major multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning and acclaimed recording artists like The Hold Steady, Mat Kearney, Brandi Carlile and more, as well as several bonus digital tracks. The songs are new, classic, electric or acoustic, and reflect the generosity of the artists that donated them to the project on behalf of serving those in need.
“We are honored to be partnering once again with Hard Rock and such great musicians for this effort,” said Bill Ayres, founder of WHY. “The generosity and time committed to SERVE2 has been tremendous, and we are overwhelmed by the support for the cause.”
Servin’ Up Some Rockin’ Charity . . .
SERVE2: Physical Album (also available digitally):
Bruce Springsteen “The Ghost of Tom Joad (Live in Dublin)”
KT Tunstall “Heal Over (Live at Gaia Music, London)”
Bob Dylan “The Ballad of Hollis Brown (Live at Carnegie Hall, 1963)”
Joss Stone “Big Ol’ Game”
Jackson Browne “Casino Nation (Live from Melbourne, Australia)”
Citizen Cope feat. Alice Smith “107°”
Brandi Carlile “The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Live from Boston)”
Marc Broussard “Bring It On Home To Me” (Sam Cooke cover)
The Hold Steady “Arms and Hearts”
*O.A.R. “Dareh Meyod (Live at Madison Square Garden)”
Natasha Bedingfield “Lay Down”
Mat Kearney “Nothing Left to Lose” (Acoustic Version)
Ghosts “Stay The Night”
Andrew W.K. “This Is My World”
Bonus / Digital Tracks:
Toby Lightman “Better (Live From Joe’s Pub)”
Sons of William “Bell Bottom Blues” (Derek & the Dominos cover)
Hellogoodbye “Baby It’s Fact (Live From New York, NY)”
Josh Rouse “Start Again”
Jen Chapin “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” (Stevie Wonder cover)
Eli Cook “Man-Child”
Griffin House “Love to Begin”
*Previously-released track
Listen to Hellogoodbye’s “Baby It’s a Fact” (Live From New York) from Serve2
http://dev.theorchard.com/jaclyn/mp3/Hellogoodbye_babyitsafact_livenewyork.mp3
One Million and Counting . . .
To celebrate reaching the $1 million mark in funds raised for WHY, in addition to SERVE2, Hard Rock International will continue to offer its 21st Signature Series T-Shirt, inspired by Bruce Springsteen, and also launch a new commemorative limited-edition pin, to benefit WHY. The Bruce Springsteen Signature Series t-shirt and collectible pin feature a drawing of one of Bruce’s favorite guitars. The shirt is available in black in classic men’s sizes.
“Hard Rock International possesses a social consciousness that benefits a number of charities and organizations, including World Hunger Year,” said Sean Dee, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Hard Rock International. “Hard Rock has actively supported World Hunger Year for years, raising more than $1 million to date, and we are proud to continue to support a great organization that envisions a world without hunger and poverty.”
In addition to Hard Rock’s Rock Shops throughout the world, the SERVE2 compilation, Bruce Springsteen Signature Series t-shirt and pin will also be available for sale through Hard Rock’s Web site at www.hardrock.com and WHY’s Web site www.worldhungeryear.org beginning November 6th, 2007. All songs featured on the SERVE2 CD, as well as bonus tracks, will also be available for download at major online retail stores via The Orchard’s digital distribution network.
“We applaud Hard Rock and the entire WHY team for their passion, commitment and dedication to harnessing the power of music to fight global poverty,” said Greg Scholl, President and Chief Executive of The Orchard. “We are proud to be a part of this project and to help spread the message of SERVE2 to fans around the world.”
PLAY
