SNL on DVD!!
Universal has just officially announced the DVD release of Saturday Night Live 1975-1976: The Complete First Season for 12/5!
The 8-disc set (SRP $69.98) will include all 24 90-minute episodes complete with their original hosts and all the original musical guests.
You also get a 32-page book of liner notes and rare case photos.
Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman...woo hoo!!!
Downie jazzed about new Hip album
It's good to see inspiring people feeling inspired.
And that's just how Gordon Downie is looking these days.
With The Tragically Hip's new album, World Container, set to drop Tuesday, frontman Downie seems enthusiastic as he sits in a hotel lobby, talking about The Hip, Bob Rock and rock 'n' roll.
A string of intriguing topics to any music fan.
"I guess I'm jazzed about this record, and excited about it, because I feel like I stumbled onto something," says Downie.
For the making of World Container, The Hip teamed up with famed rock producer Bob Rock, who has produced some of the greatest rock albums of all time, including Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood and Metallica's self-titled album.
"The sound is fresh," says Downie.
"It's a celebration of a great working and personal relationship with Bob that didn't exist two years ago."
The relationship, thankfully, was one that flourished easily and early.
"It became clear this was going to be a very different record for The Hip," writes Rock in his World Container biography.
"The songs were very personal and one in particular, Fly, got to me right away. I had never heard a song like that from The Hip."
Needless to say, Rock agreed to do the album, and the rest, as they say, is what they don't teach you in history class.
Rock's rock 'n' roll style shines through on World Container.
"Bob said to us at the beginning, 'you're a great rock band, you know, you've got a great groove.' "
"It wasn't like 'let's keep it simple,' but ... when we sort of started sifting through material to try, he would ... politely move beyond (some stuff) or push it aside."
Downie says these songs inevitably would be the ones that seemed, "too much from the head and not so much from the heart. And I think I'm interested in what the heart has to say."
"I think it shows on this record."
"The heart is one's greatest resource,and I don't know if I was really going to it enough."
Something else Downie says he's not sure if The Hip were doing enough was letting their musical inspiration shine through.
"I think it's always fun to show those influences a bit," he says. "To show that you're very cognizant and aware of your role in the great lineage of music."
And being part of that lineage is something Downie is proud of.
"I love music constantly. I love that it's part of my life."
"My 11-year-old daughter bought The Killers' new single and played it maybe 40 times in a row the other day.
"And I was in the kitchen making toast, and I tell you, every time she put it on and I thought Yeah!
"Because that's what I would have done ... you save up your allowance and it's either candy or record. And you'd get the record and you'd play it a thousand times in a row because you own it, it's yours.
"And I love that feeling."
As far as what it is about rock 'n' roll he still loves: "I think it's an instrument of change. I think it can change the world."
Whether World Container will change the world, we'll have to wait and see.
But whether or not The Tragically Hip has changed the world of Canadian rock is a no-brainer.
The Rankins set to reunite
Some familiar Nova Scotia harmonies will soon be ringing out again on record and in concert halls.
Sources close to Cape Breton's Rankin family say that Jimmy Rankin and sisters Raylene, Cookie and Heather Rankin will perform again as a group for the first time since they initially disbanded in 1999 to pursue other musical endeavours.
Jimmy and Raylene continued with solo musical careers, while all three sisters have collaborated on a Christmas album and still occasionally perform as a trio. Reportedly, the siblings had been working on new material at home in Mabou, before heading to Nashville to record songs with Cookie Rankin's husband, noted producer/engineer George Massenburg (Dixie Chicks, Lyle Lovett). A new album and concert tour will follow in the near future.
An official announcement of the reunion is expected to be made next week.
The death of brother John Morris Rankin in 2000 means the original lineup can never be reassembled, but reportedly his daughter Molly Rankin will have music featured in this new lineup of the group.
In the Rankins' initial decade-long career, the group racked up a string of platinum selling albums with their unique blend of Celtic, pop and country, including 1990's quadruple platinum Fare Thee Well Love. They also earned numerous awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four SOCAN Awards and three Canadian Country Music Awards.
Sara Evans Stops "Dancing"
All of a sudden, Dancing with the Stars doesn't have as much rhythm as it used to.
Country music star Sara Evans has bowed out of the ABC series, citing "personal reasons" for not being able to tango on.
As it turns out, Evans filed for divorce Thursday from her husband of 13 years, Craig Schelske. A statement released by the singer's publicist at her label, Sony BMG, explained that she needed "to give her family her full attention at this difficult time.
"Ms. Evans hopes her fans and TV viewers...will respect and understand her need for privacy in the face of these recent events," said rep Allen Brown.
Although she wasn't the most consistent of the bunch, frequently scoring near the bottom of the pack with the judges, the "Suds in the Bucket" singer was never in danger of going home, with her loyal fan base keeping her out of the bottom two each week.
Evans frequently talked on-camera about her hectic touring schedule, as well as the difficulties of juggling performing, having to learn a brand-new dance each week, and spending time with her three kids.
As recently as Wednesday's results show, however, the 35-year-old artist seemed in it for the long haul. In a video message posted Saturday on her Website, DancingWithSara.com, Evans was on her way to sing the national anthem at an Anaheim Ducks hockey game with her ballroom partner, Tony Dovolani, by her side.
"We just want to say thank you for all of your votes, and this week we're having a great time learning the samba," said Evans, who is up for Female Vocalist of the Year honors at the Country Music Association Awards and in June was voted the second-most beautiful woman in country music--behind only Faith Hill--by Country Weekly magazine.
"Please keep voting. We love you and we'll see you on TV Tuesday night."
Judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli enjoyed her samba, too, giving her props for loosening up and letting her hips do the talking.
Pop singer Willa Ford was the one to get the boot this week, putting Evans and Dovolani in the final six.
ABC told E! News that the network has no comment at this time and, wouldn't you know, you have to tune in next Tuesday to find out more info.
"It is too bad because dance has a really healing quality to it as well, and I think the family of DWTS could be a great support system for her," Inaba told Us Weekly.
"I watch them care for each other and sometimes it is good to be around people who care about you and I think that would be good for her. But she has to take care of herself and take care of her life, and I'm sure she is making a good decision for herself. We will all support her."