New CD Releases, January 15: Barry Manilow, Ringo Starr, Spice Girls
Barry Manilow “Beautiful Ballads and Love Songs”
The comeback just keeps on coming. Having resurrected his career by recording a trio of popular themed albums–focusing on well-known songs of, in order of release, the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s–the man who writes the songs continues to look to cover material with “Beautiful Ballads and Love Songs.”
The set includes new versions of past hits like “Unchained Melody,” “Stardust,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Could It Be Magic.”
Manilow is currently enjoying a residency in Vegas, a la Celine Dion and Elton John, but he will take time off for some road work this year. His North American tour, dubbed “Manilow: An Evening of Music and Passion,” is currently set to stretch through a Feb. 24 date in Miami.
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Ringo Starr “Liverpool 8”
Beatlemania lives! More than 40 years after the Fab Four invaded America, and changed the very face of pop music, there are still tons of reasons to get excited about Liverpool’s finest. The latest–which follows in the success of Cirque Du Soleil’s Beatles show, “Love,” in Las Vegas–is a new studio album from Ringo Starr.
Having just released a greatest hits album in August, “Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr,” the drummer/vocalist now returns with his 14th solo studio effort, which is his first batch of new songs since 2005’s “Choose Love.” “Liverpool 8” was co-produced by Starr, working alongside such talents as Dave Stewart.
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Spice Girls “Greatest Hits”
Following a 7-year hiatus, the Spices–Melanie “Scary Spice” Brown, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, Emma “Baby Spice” Burton, Melanie “Sporty Spice” Chishollm and Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell–finally regrouped last year and embarked on what’s turning out to be a phenomenally successful reunion tour.
To capitalize on all the excitement, the gals are releasing “Spice Girls: Greatest Hits,” which features all the fan favorites as well as two new songs, “Voodoo” and the single “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends).” The package is just being officially released, although it’s been available for purchase at Victoria’s Secret now for a couple of months.
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Magnetic Fields “Distortion”
The indie synth-pop band returns with its first album in nearly four years. The Magnetic Fields will support “Distortion,” the band’s eighth record, with a tour that kicks off Feb. 11 in Northampton, MA. The trek features a series of multi-night stands, including Feb. 28-29 at the Noise Pop festival in San Francisco.
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Anne Murray “Anne Murray Duets: Friends and Legends”
The acclaimed vocalist is in impressive company on this album of duets. Lending a hand are such celebs as Celine Dion, Nelly Furtado, Oliva Newton-John and Carole King.
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More new releases:
Raheem DeVaughn, “Love Behind the Melody” (Jive)
Eels, “Meet the Eels: Essential Eels 1996-2006, Vol. 1” (Geffen)
Eels, “Useless Trinkets: B Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2007” (Geffen)
Eliane Elias, “Something for You” (Blue Note)
Leon Fleisher, “The Essential Leon Fleisher” (Sony)
Jon Foreman, “Fall and Winter” (Credential)
Gamma Ray, “Land of the Free, Pt. 2” (Steamhammer)
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette, “Setting Standards” (ECM)
Eric Lindell, “Low on Cash, Rich in Love” (Alligator)
Olivia Newton-John, “Olivia’s Live Hits” (Capitol)
Pagan’s Mind, “God’s Equation” (Limb)
Roomful of Blues, “Raisin’ A Ruckus” (Alligator)
Matthew West, “Something to Say” (Sparrow)
Soundtracks and scores:
“I Am Legend” (Varese)
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