Day: February 25, 2010

Carly Simon lets slip a clue to popís great mystery
The identity of the man who walked into the party like he was walking on to a yacht in Carly Simonís 1972 hit “Youíre So Vain” is one of popís greatest mysteries, matched only by the price of that doggie in the window and what Meat Loaf would not do for love.
After guarding the secret for 38 years, however, the singer has let slip the first name of the man who jilted her before going to Saratoga to watch his horse naturally win. Her indiscretion, which coincides with the release of her greatest hits album, appears in an instrumental interlude in an acoustic version of the song.
The name ìDavidî is whispered, backwards, about two and a half minutes into the song.
Simon, 64, confirmed in an interview with Uncut magazine that the whisper alluded to her former lover. ìIím just going to tell you this,î she said. ìThe answer is on the new version of Youíre So Vain. Thereís a little whisper ó and itís the answer to the puzzle.î
Her confession, if genuine, rules out most of the candidates who have been considered favorites over the years. Warren Beatty, who briefly went out with Simon in the early 1970s, was considered by many, including himself, to be the one who flew his Learjet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun. His mother was born and raised in Nova Scotia. In 1983 Simon said that her description sounded like Beatty. ìHe certainly thought it was about him. He called me and said, ëThanks for the songí.î
Other suspects have included Sir Mick Jagger, who sang backing vocals for the original song, and James Taylor, the American songwriter to whom Simon was married between 1972 and 1983, although she denied it was him.
Two Davids have been considered in the past, although both have been dismissed because of other clues Simon has given. David Cassidy, who rose to fame with The Partridge Family, was 22 when the song was written, but he had already cultivated a solo career and had a hit album. David Bowie has also been discussed.
Simon said in 2003 and 2004, however, that the subject had the letters A, E and R in his name. This rules both Davids out unless she is including their middle names. Bowie was born Duncan Robert Jones and Cassidyís middle name is Bruce.
Other prominent Davids of the early 1970s include David Frost, David Soul and David (now Lord) Owen. A more credible candidate is David Crosby, formerly of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, who was in Los Angeles at the same time as Simon.

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Announce New Album, Tour
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will release “Mojo,” their first album in eight years, this spring, the band announced today. The venerable heartland rockers also unveiled dates for a North American summer tour, which kicks off May 6 in Raleigh, N.C. and wraps Aug. 27 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
“Mojo” marks Petty and company’s first release since 2002’s “The Last DJ” (Petty released his third solo album, “Highway Companion” in 2006). “The Last DJ” garnered mostly positive reviews and praise for its honest lyrics and pointed criticism of the music industry. Though the album reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200, it pulled up shy of gold, selling 353,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Fresh on the heels of “Mojo’s” release, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will hit the road with an impressive billing of guest performers, including Joe Cocker, Drive-By Truckers, ZZ Top, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and My Morning Jacket. Tickets for all shows go on sale March 8 with the exception the June 25 Summerfest date, which will be available March 6.
Here are Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ tour dates:
May 6: Raleigh, N.C. (Time Warner Cable Pavilion at Walnut Creek)*
May 7: Charlotte, N.C (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)*
May 9: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)*
May 15: Dallas, Tex. (Superpages.com Center)*
May 16: Houston, Tex. (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)*
May 18: Phoenix, Ariz. (US Airways Arena)*
May 22: Los Angeles, Calif. (Hollywood Bowl)*
Jun 2: San Diego, Calif. (Cricket Wireless Pavilion)*
Jun 3: Irvine, Calif. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)*
Jun 5: Oakland, Calif. (Oracle Pavilion)*
Jun 8: Vancouver, BC (GM Place)*
Jun 11: Seattle, Wash. (The Gorge)*
Jun 12: Seattle, Wash. (The Gorge)*
Jun 15: Calgary, AB (Pengrowth Saddledome)*
Jun 16: Edmonton, AB (Rexall Place)*
Jun 19: Winnipeg, MB (MTS Centre)*
Jun 22: St Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)**
Jun 23: Omaha, Neb. (Qwest Center)**
Jun 25: Milwaukee, Wis. (Summerfest)***
Jul 10: Indianapolis, Ind. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)**
Jul 13: Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center)**
Jul 15: Cincinnati, Ohio (Riverbend Music Center)**
Jul 17: Chicago, Ill. (United Center)**
Jul 20: Cleveland, Ohio (Blossom Music Center)**
Jul 22: Detroit, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills)**
Jul 24: Pittsburgh, Pa. (First Niagra Pavilion)**
Jul 28: New York, N.Y. (Madison Square Garden)
Jul 31: Philadelphia, Pa. (Wachovia Center)
Aug 11: Atlanta, Ga. (Philips Arena)****
Aug 12: Nashville, Tenn. (Sommet Center)****
Aug 14: Darien Lake, N.Y. (Darien Lake Performing Arts Center)****
Aug 15: Bristow, Vt. (Jiffy Lube Live)****
Aug 17: Hartford, Conn. (Comcast Theater)****
Aug 19: Boston, Mass. (Comcast Center)*****
Aug 21: Boston, Mass. (Comcast Center)*****
Aug 24: East Rutherford, N.J. (IZOD Center)*****
Aug 25: Toronto, ON (Air Canada Center)****
Aug 27: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Saratoga Performing Arts Center)****
* with Joe Cocker
** with Drive-by Truckers
*** with ZZ Top
**** with Crosby, Stills & Nash
***** with My Morning Jacket

Rolling Stones unearth 10 new tracks for reissue
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) ñ The Rolling Stones, who have long resisted releasing archival material, will include 10 previously unheard songs in an upcoming reissue of “Exile on Main Street,” the group’s representatives said on Thursday.
The original 1972 release, a sprawling two-disc set regarded by many observers as one of their greatest works, features such notable tracks as “Tumbling Dice” and “Happy.”
It was recorded in the grim basement of a French villa once used by the Gestapo. Guitarist Keith Richards was consumed at the time by a heroin addiction and singer Mick Jagger was distracted by his new wife, Bianca.
The reissue, due out in the United States on May 18 and a day earlier internationally through Vivendi’s Universal Music Group, will be supplemented by new tracks with such titles as “Plundered My Soul,” “Dancing in the Light,” “Following the River” and “Pass The Wine.”
While the Stones have been widely bootlegged, the four disclosed titles appeared to be unknown to collectors. Alternate versions of the album tracks “Soul Survivor” and “Loving Cup” will also be included. A publicist said she did not have information on the other titles.
Jagger told Rolling Stone magazine that he and Richards overdubbed percussion and guitar, respectively, on some of the bonus tracks.
They oversaw the project with producer Don Was, who has worked with the band for 15 years. The singer also wrote fresh lyrics for “Following the River.”
Jagger has been reluctant to open the band’s vaults because he views the veteran British band that dates back to 1962 as a contemporary rather than a nostalgia act.
Peers such as Bob Dylan and David Bowie, as well as thriving younger acts like U2, have been less resistant to the idea of dusting off outtakes and other rarities.
The reissue will also be complemented by a made-for-TV documentary, “Stones in Exile,” which features rare archival film footage and photos as well as fresh interviews.
The album will be available in three configurations: the original 18-track release; an edition with the bonus tracks; and a package that also includes a vinyl version, a different 30-minute documentary DVD and a book.