Hit Me With Your Best Shot, JD

Rockin’ is his business – well, one of them – and business is good for Jim Dolan. Already a well-respected corporate executive, Dolan makes his debut on JD Records (distributed through Rhino Entertainment) as lead singer and rhythm guitarist for The Straight Shot with Nothing To Hide. Featuring 10 original songs, the album was released on September 20, 2005 at regular physical and digital retail outlets and at http://www.rhino.com/.

Dolan has been playing music since he was 15 and three years ago he formed The Straight Shot – guitarist and chief songwriter, Bruce Koplow; bassist, Roscoe Harring; drummer, Wally Usiatynski and keyboardist, Jonny Rosch.

Weaving slow-burning blues jams together with ballads and tight rockers, Nothing To Hide was written from an experienced point of view. “These songs reflect a world-weariness that you don’t hear in the typical pop song,” Dolan explains, “but they still deal with universal themes that everyone can relate to.”

The album takes its name from a line in the song “Slow Motion In Reverse,” a shuffling blues set in a neighborhood dive bar. Dolan says the line embodies not only the spirit of the album, but also the spirit in which he lives his life. “My choices aren’t based on what other people will think. I do what I believe is right. Whatever reaction you have to me – in business, music or anything – I guarantee you’re reacting to the real me.”

The album is full of tracks that explore true-to-life stories. It mixes the rhythmic intensity of blues and classic rock with the intimacy of the contemporary singer-songwriter. Anyone hoping to find honesty, humor and spirit in their music will enjoy Nothing To Hide.

Full Album

Atlantic Unearthed On Earth

Rhino Records will be releasing 2 very special CDs, Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Sisters and Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers on June 20th. Atlantic Records was home to many of the legendary singers, songwriters and producers who defined the sweet sound of the early 1960s and '70s soul. Rhino Records uncovers forgotten classics drawn from Atlantic's vast library and brings them together for a pair of single-disc compilations, Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Sisters and Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers. Both albums feature remastered versions of hard-to-find singles---some making their CD debut; B-sides of hits and previously unreleased music by the kings and queens of soul.

SOUL BROTHERS presents 16 cuts recorded between 1967 and 1973 featuring music by Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Bobby Womack and Percy Sledge, as well as a talented group of underappreciated singers such as Arthur Conley, Percy Wiggins and James Carr.

SOUL SISTERS includes 16 tracks recorded between 1964 and 1974 featuring music from Aretha Franklin, Irma Thomas, Patti LaBelle and Barbara Lewis as well as a chorus of lesser-known singers deserving of more attention such as Doris Troy, Judy Clay and Baby Washington.

Soul Brothers / Soul Sisters Sampler

Forgive Me, Fo' Real

The members of new Urban Latino pop sensation C Note have one dream – to give a voice to the millions of Latinos who, like themselves, have grown up with American culture but hold strong to their families’ roots. Joshua “J-Kid” Correa, Raul “RaRa” Molina, David “D’LO” Perez, Johnathan “Jae” Lopez and Orlando “O.T.” Torres have embraced their bicultural upbringing in their life as well as in their music, fusing English with Spanish to deliver Spanglish music that speaks to an entire generation of Latinos. These multi-talented singer/songwriters and dancers, who have each been making their mark as bilingual performers from an early age, joined forces in 2005 and have arrived on the surging Latin music scene con fuerza (with strength).

C Note’s five members embody the diverse spectrum of Latinos in the United States, representing New York, New Jersey and Orlando by way of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The group’s founding members and longtime friends, Molina and Perez, approached pop mogul Lou Pearlman with a vision to create a Latin vocal group comprised of young, talented and bicultural singers and dancers from diverse origins. Pearlman signed the group in July 2005 as the first artists on his new record label, Trans Continental Latino and will release C Note’s debut full-length album in the summer of 2006.


"Forgive Me"
http://cnote.com/forgive-me

Keep on Rockin' Me...30 Years Later

On June 27th, Capitol Records will release the 30th Anniversary Edition of Fly Like An Eagle by the Steve Miller Band. Fly Like An Eagle is one of the seminal rock albums of the 1970’s and, thirty years hence, its hits are still staples at classic rock radio. The original album has been re-mastered for the CD and is presented in 5.1 Surround Sound on an accompanying DVD. (Ooh, we love surround sound!)

“With the Surround Sound mix, people will finally hear the album the way I originally intended it to be heard,” says Miller, noting that it was originally recorded for quadraphonic sound systems. The DVD also contains an exclusive interview with Miller on the making of the record and a two-hour concert.

To celebrate the release of this remarkable collectible package, which also features three previously unreleased bonus tracks, the Steve Miller Band will be launching a tour on May 25th in Sonoma, CA that will keep them on the road into November.

Check out this classic rock mash-up of Steve Miller's "Take the Money and Run" and "The Joker" (Though we'll always prefer Homer Simpson's version, no matter wut).

Corinne Bailey Rae of Sunshine

Corinne Bailey Rae’s self-titled debut album will finally be released to the American masses on June 20th, 2006. When singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae’s self-titled debut album entered the U.K. album chart at #1 in March, she made chart history as the first female British artist to do so with a debut album of original songs. Corinne Bailey Rae is currently certified double Platinum there, and Gold in numerous other countries, with worldwide sales already well over one million. Now Bailey Rae is poised to take North America, launching the album with performances on “Good Morning America” (June 19th) and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (June 27th) as well as a series of sold-out shows in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. While in the States, Bailey Rae will also tape appearances on PBS’ “The Tavis Smiley Show” and A&E’s “Breakfast with the Arts.” Dates are being finalized for a full North American summer tour.

Early reaction has been astounding with Starbucks signing on to carry Corinne Bailey Rae at its Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada, a cross-platform “You Oughta Know” campaign at VH1, VH1 Soul and VH1.com and a BET award nomination. And this week iTunes is featuring an acoustic version of lead single “Put Your Records On” as Single of the Week. “Rae's music sticks in your mind like a pleasant scent you wish would linger," said Blender while Entertainment Weekly said “Corinne Bailey Rae is so 5 minutes from now….Think a warm, sultry blend of Norah Jones Cool and Macy Gray Soul, with songwriting that shows flashes of Fiona Apple.”

“Put Your Records On” Live at CDUK

Corinne Bailey Rae EPK