Screenhead

“You’re as Cold as Ice…”

Foreigner, one of the world’s most popular and enduring rock bands, released a new three-disc collection, including a CD album of all new music, a CD album of the band’s original hit recordings, and a DVD of the band in concert and beyond. Can’t Slow Down is the name of the album available from Rhino Entertainment, exclusively through Wal-Mart.

The title track, Can’t Slow Down, was written by Mick Jones, Kelly Hansen, and Marti Frederiksen as a tribute to NASCAR in celebration of Foreigner’s appearance at the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year. NASCAR fans bought so many CDs that day that Foreigner’s 2008 release No End In Sight: The Very Best Of Foreigner was propelled back into the Billboard Top 200.

The collection’s second disc contains 10 remixes by Marti Frederiksen and Anthony Focx of some of the band’s most well known songs, including “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Urgent,” “Hot Blooded,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.” The remixes bring a new energy and sound definition to these classic songs.

Happily, I was able to talk with Tom Gimbel, who plays rhythm guitar, keyboards, sax, and flute. Tom hits those high-notes during “Urgent” when he performs his solo with the sax. 

Tom is a very, cool upbeat guy who’s been with Foreigner for over 17 years, ‘longest band member other than the original guys.”  Tom has seen the group change and grow while still being its “vibrant force.”

I asked Tom about the remixing of the older rock songs for the second disc, and he stressed that it’s really remastering, “cleaning up the sound, so it jumps out of the speakers.” 

I couldn’t image these great-old songs jumping out of the speakers anymore than they do now, but I listened to the new sounds…yes, the songs jump out even more and sound fantastic! Even my nine-year old daughter loves their music.

Tom and I talked a little bit about Foreigner’s music being played in movies, of course, we knew it had been done, but couldn’t name any movies until my daughter mentioned “I Want to Know What Love Is” plays on Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeakquel teaser trailer.  Then…yes of course.

What was life like for this rock and roll star growing up? Tom got his ear for music by listening to Broadway show tunes instead of watching television. He’s mother would take a big stack of LPs, place them on the console to play and all four children, including Tom would sing and dance the afternoon away. 

So, after I talked with Tom, my daughter and I sat down and watched the DVD. It captures the band performing many of its hits live in 5.1 surround sound. The DVD also contains performances filmed during the band’s recently completed European tour. We were amazed at how vibrant the band could be, even though some of them look a little older – I am being kind, but it’s obvious, they are not slowing down. The performances were fantastic!

Also featured is a behind-the-scenes, but we didn’t look at that part of the DVD. But it contains the creation of Can’t Slow Down, from writing sessions in New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles to the Wal-Mart shareholders meeting where the exclusive partnership behind this project was finalized.

Screenhead has the 3-disc collection Can’t Slow Down available for giveaway.  Please post your name and we will pick the winner Wednesday, October 28, 2009.

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Screenhead has the opportunity to give away 10 copies of Barney: Jungle Friends, which is available as a special DVD/CD set on September 15^th, from Lionsgate Family Entertainment.

Grab your safari hat and get ready for a one-of-a-kind musical Jungle adventure! Join your best friends Barney, BJ, and Baby Bop as they laugh, dance, and sing through an enchanted rainforest and learn about all of the amazing plants, animals, and insects that call the rainforest their home. Watch and learn as kids play with monkeys, collect butterflies, and search for the legendary Higgledy Piggledy Pear Tree in this super-dee-duper tale of friendship and fun!

Post your name and Screenhead will pick the winners Friday, September 25, 2009.

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Inspired by the Emmy-nominated hit Disney Channel series starring Selena Gomez, as well as the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name, the Wizards of Waverly Place album features brand new songs and interpretations of classic tracks from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, each one about magic. The album is on the music shelves, while Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie premieres on Disney Channel August 28.

The album includes several new songs performed by series star Selena Gomez, including “Disappear,” the rock ballad “Magical,” the show’s theme song “Everything is Not as it Seems” and a new version of Pilot’s 1975 Top 10 Hit “Magic.”  The CD features exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with Selena, plus her all-new music video.

My daughter loves “Wizard of Waverly Place” and is overly excited about the songs as she sings them from the album. “Strange Magic” by Steve Rushton is her favorite song.

The Emmy-nominated “Wizards of Waverly Place” premiered in 2007, and has since become a global TV phenomenon. The show follows the Russos, a New York family that includes Alex (Selena Gomez), her brothers and parents. The three kids are wizards, able to perform amazing feats of magic, though they aren’t supposed to do so without parental permission. Of course, that usually doesn’t stop Alex.  “Wizards of Waverly Place” ranks as TV’s #1 scripted program among the targeted kid demographics in second quarter 2009. 

Here is Wizards of Waverly Place track list: 

1. Disappear Selena Gomez      

2. Magical Selena Gomez

3. Magic (Pilot) Selena Gomez

4. Strange Magic Steve Rushton

5. Magic (The Cars) Honor Society

6. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic Mitchel Musso

7. Magic Carpet Ride KSM

8. Magic (Xanadu) Meaghan Martin

9. You Can Do Magic Drew Seeley

10. Some Call It Magic Raven-Symoné

11. Do You Believe in Magic Aly & AJ

12. Everything Is Not As It Seems Selena Gomez

Screenhead has one copy of Disney’s Wizard of Waverly Movie CD to give away.  Post your name and we will pick the winner Sunday, August 30, 2009.

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Internationally-renowned singer and actress Vanessa Williams released her thirteenth album this week appropriately called THE REAL THING.  The collection marks a return to her love for the rhythms of jazz and Latin music, a key part of her musical roots. 

THE REAL THING delves into the sophisticated pop and R&B that have been the hallmark of her dynamic musical career. Her sound is angelica and passionate. I love playing the Williams CD while I work at my computer – I am taken to another fanciful place, its endearing. 

THE REAL THINGis a passionate song cycle about relationships, and Williams hand-picked each song on the record as it relates to a phase of the modern-day love affair seen from a woman’s perspective.  From the two new songs penned for the CD by Babyface (”Loving You” and “Just Friends”) to “Hello Like Before” by Bill Withers (Williams’ late father’s favorite artist) to Stevie Wonder’s “The Real Thing” to Bebel Gilberto’s “Close To You,” THE REAL THING  taps into the wide breadth of Williams’ musicality and artistry. 

You’ll find THE REAL THING a soulful journey to serenity.

Screenhead has available one copy of Vanessa Williams THE REAL THING for a giveaway.  Post your name and we will pick the winner Thursday, June 18, 2009.

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The winner is Michael Capp (19)! Congratulations.

PLAYING FOR CHANGE

Overview

“The act of playing music with people of different cultures, religions, economics and politics is a powerful statement.  It shows that we can find ways of working together and sharing our experiences with one another in a positive way.  Music has the power to break down the walls between cultures, to raise the level of human understanding.”  ~ Mark Johnson, founder, Playing for Change

My daughter and I sat down and watched the Playing for Change.  I was impressed at how Mark Johnson and his crew were able to mix all the performers from all over the world.  My daughter sat through all the songs reading off each country the performers were singing or playing instruments.  Playing for Change starts in Santa Monica, California and goes to Israel, Africa, Nepal, South America and it’s never ending, seamlessly.  The singer Bono joins in on the song called War/No More Trouble, which I believe, is the late Bob Marley song whose live performance is edited into the piece.

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Crooked X’s began as 14-year-olds in Coweta (population 7,000), highlighting how the four young boys started a band in a garage, scored music in the highly successful Rock Band, headlined the Fender/Rock Band Lounge at 2008’s Sundance Film Festival and opened for KISS in front of 35,000 screaming fans in Stockholm. These events led to Crooked X signing with EMI via McGhee Proffer Media (MPM) in August of 2008, all within the span of nine months.

The teenage quartet, comprised of Forrest French (vocals, guitar), Jesse Cooper (lead guitar, vocals), Josh McDowell (bass) and Boomer Simpson (drums), began playing in fifth grade, and cite influences including AC/DC, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Jimi Hendrix, Shinedown, Metallica, Audioslave and Pink Floyd.

Screenhead has 5 Crooked X albums to giveaway on Saturday, May 2, 2009. Post your name and we will pick the winners then.

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PLAYING FOR CHANGE

Overview

“The act of playing music with people of different cultures, religions, economics and politics is a powerful statement.  It shows that we can find ways of working together and sharing our experiences with one another in a positive way.  Music has the power to break down the walls between cultures, to raise the level of human understanding.”  ~ Mark Johnson, founder, Playing for Change

My daughter and I sat down and watched the Playing for Change.  I was impressed at how Mark Johnson and his crew were able to mix all the performers from all over the world.  My daughter sat through all the songs reading off each country the performers were singing or playing instruments.  Playing for Change starts in Santa Monica, California and goes to Israel, Africa, Nepal, South America and it’s never ending, seamlessly.  The singer Bono joins in on the song called War/No More Trouble, which I believe, is the late Bob Marley song whose live performance is edited into the piece.

Screenhead has an extra Playing for Change CD/DVD package to giveaway. Please post your name and we will pick the winner Saturday, May 23, 2009.

Playing For Change | Song Around The World “Stand By Me” from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

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The winners are Susan Varney (16) and Linda (20)!

The Academy Award nominated soundtrack for Defiance is extraordinary. Joshua Bell plays the violin to James Norton Howard’s music.  The collaboration is stupendous. The violin is a character in itself and so much part of the Eastern Europe culture that the film could not be without.

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Alvin & the Chipmunks are back with a new album UNDENIABLE the follow up to the platinum selling soundtrack for their blockbuster film! Featuring covers of hits like Livin’ on a Prayer and Groove Thing plus new chipmunk originals. UNDENIABLE is in stores from Razor & Tie. 

What a great Christmas Present for the Kids!

This week Screenhead has 5 UNDENIABLE CDs to giveaway.   Post your name and we’ll draw the 5 winners on Saturday, December 13th.

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For Thanksgiving my family and I went to the northern coast for a wonderful and quiet time of eating a Turkey dinner, a walk on the beach and the music of Rod Stewart for the four hour drive to the coast and back. The Definitive Rod Stewart 2 CD and 1 DVD set is a treasure of Rod Stewart hits from the late 60’s to the late 90’s.  The 2 CDs just about filled the whole drive, which my 8 year old daughter found his distinct voice adorable.

With an estimated 250 million in album and single sales, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart arguably possesses one of rock’s greatest and most distinctive voices. For many years, he called Warner Bros. home, first as lead singer of the influential band the Faces and later as an internationally successful solo artist. This fall, Warner Bros. will launch a comprehensive catalog release campaign that focuses on Stewart’s solo years with Warner Bros., featuring Collector’s Editions of some of the artist’s biggest-selling albums, a trio of boxed sets spotlighting studio, live and rare recordings, as well as compilations of Stewart’s duets, soundtrack contributions and more.

The release of The Definitive Rod Stewart available in two versions: a standard two-CD edition and a deluxe edition that includes a bonus DVD of music videos. I was lucky to get my hands on the DVD version. As one of Billboard magazine’s most successful chart artists of all time, the newly assembled collection offers 30 of his greatest, showcasing not only his unmistakable rasp, but also his evocative songwriting and unique ability to inhabit a song.

Think of a Rod Stewart song and it’s in this collection from Maggie May to Some Guys Have All the Luck. I am loving The Definitive Rod Stewart; his affinity for the words with his unique voice brings delight to my work and play.

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