New Releases, May 27: Usher, Cyndi Lauper, Return to Forever And John Hiatt!
Usher “Here I Stand”
Usher Raymond IV–better known in the entertainment business as just “Usher”–will release his new album a month earlier than initially announced. “Here I Stand” follows 2004’s chart-topper “Confessions,” which sold some 1.1 million copies during its first week on shelves.
For the new set, Usher worked with some big-name writers and producers, including Jermaine Dupre and Dr. Dre, and called in such guest stars as Beyonce and Jay Z. The first single from “Here I Stand” is “Love in the Club,” which is already a radio hit.
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Cyndi Lauper “Bring Ya to the Brink”
Lauper–the original girl who just wants to have fun–returns with a follow-up to 2005’s “The Body Acoustic,” a work that contained acoustic renditions of past hits. “Bring Ya to the Brink” features the single “Set Your Heart.”
The quirky vocalist will also hit the road this summer, leading another edition of the True Colors tour to support the gay-and-lesbian advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. The tour, which also features The B-52’s, Rosie O’Donnell and other acts, kicks off May 31 in Boston.
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Return to Forever “The Anthology”
The jazz-rock fusion supergroup made headlines when it announced that it was reuniting for its first tour in 25 years. Return to Forever–featuring keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al Di Meola and drummer Lenny White–will kick off its tour May 29 with the first of two shows in Austin, TX. From there, it will hit more than 30 other North American cities.
The Grammy-winning band will also have something to sell at these shows–this “Anthology” set. The collection features remixed and remastered tracks from the albums “Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy,” “Where Have I Known You Before,” “No Mystery” and “Romantic Warrior.”
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Various artists “Sex and the City: Music From the Original Motion Picture”
HBO’s hit comedy TV series is getting a big-screen makeover: “Sex and the City,” the motion picture, hits theaters this week. In connection with that highly anticipated film comes this soundtrack, which features tracks by such artists as The Weepies, Jennifer Hudson and Fergie. It also includes some interesting collaborations, such as Al Green teaming with Joss Stone on “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?”
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Al Green “Lay It Down”
The R&B legend is set to drop his highly anticipated new studio album. Green has already been active on the road this spring, playing a few select festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage and the Sonoma Jazz +. He’ll kick off his headlining tour in earnest with a June 19 show in Toronto.
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More new releases:
The Browns, “The Complete Hits” (Collector’s Choice)
The Byrds, “Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971” (Sundazed)
Eliza Gilkyson, “Beautiful World” (Red House)
Buddy Guy, “Breaking Out” (JSP)
John Hiatt, “Same Old Man” (New West)
Ihsahn, “Angl” (Candlelight)
Kataklysm, “Prevail” (Nuclear Blast)
Sam Phillips, “Don’t Do Anything” (Nonesuch)
Jenny Scheinman, “Jenny Scheinman” (Koch)
The Smithereens, “Live in Concert–Greatest Hits and More” (Koch)
36 Crazyfists, “The Tide and Its Takers” (Ferret)
Tobymac, “Alive and Transported” (Forefront)
Various artists, “Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump” (Strut)
Soundtracks and scores:
“A Catered Affair (Original Broadway Cast Recording)” (P.S. Classics)
“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific” (Sony)
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