I love the new album by Israel Houghton – Love God, Love People: The London Sessions. But the stand out track for me is “Mercies” which features Kirk Franklin. The song uplifts the spirit when things just aren’t going your way. It’s fantastic. It’s currently on *repeat* in my car. check it out!
Nobody said things would always be easy
Nobody said it would always be nice
Nobody said that everyday would turn out perfectly right
Somebody said my yoke is easy
Somebody said my burden is light
Somebody said that weeping only lasts for just a night
So when your day comes to an end and your night is closing in
Tears fall uncontrollably but you’re gonna see
Oh Your help is on the way
You gotta know, tomorrow is another day
His mercies are fresh every morning!
Nobody said there will always be sunshine
Nobody said there will never be rain
Nobody said that you will never have just one of those days
Somebody said that I’ll be your lifeline
Somebody said I’ll take all your pain
Somebody said that I specialize in impossible things
When there’s darkness all around and you feel like breaking down
Tears fall uncontrollably but you’re gonna see
Oh Your help is on the way
You gotta know, tomorrow is another day
His mercies are fresh every morning!!
Every morning, grace is dawning
Sun is rising, favor falling
Goodness and mercy will follow you everyday
So don’t you worry ’bout a thing, don’t you be afraid
Everything will be OK in the morning…
written by Israel Houghton, Meleasa Houghton and Aaron Lindsey
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
2011 UK dates have been announced for three classic rock acts: Journey, Styx and Foreigner. I personally think the lineup is a tad stale but I guess in this economy, the concert promoters have to play it “safe”. Hopefully promoters will come up with something different in terms of the lineup when Journey comes back to the states in 2011. I guess, haters can go for the obvious and call the UK tour lineup, “The Replacements” since none of the bands are fronted by their original singers but what are ya gonna do.
Here are the 2011 UK dates (Tickets go on sale this friday, November 12): Saturday 06/04/2011 London, Wembley Arena
Sunday 06/05/2011 Birmingham, LG Arena
Tuesday 06/07/2011 Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Wednesday 06/08/2011 Manchester, Manchester Evening News Arena
Thursday 06/09/2011 Glasgow, Glasgow SECC
here are some quotes from the official press release:
Neal Schon: “We’re so excited to be coming back to the UK to play arenas with our friends Foreigner and Styx. Be prepared to hear a lot of hit songs”
Mick Jones: “This will be one of the main events of the summer. Bands who represent the magic era in Classic Rock together for the first time in my home country. Get ready to rock!”
James “JY” Young: “Styx has always enjoyed sharing the stage with Journey, going back to the Santa Monica Civic Center in 1976. The tour we did with them in 2003 across the United States was an amazing success of sold out arenas. Journey, Foreigner & Styx seems like a can’t miss Guitars a-blazin’ Vocals a-mazing kind of a Classic Rock Evening!”
With volatile lead singer Scott Weiland back with Stone Temple Pilots, hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver is left in limbo. Rumor has it that the remaining members (Slash, Dave Kushner, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum) are actively seeking a replacement singer for the band but in my opinion, it’ll be tough to call it “Velvet Revolver” without Weiland’s involvement. But that’s just me.
In the meantime, fans will finally be able to get their hands on an officially sanctioned DVD of the band’s 2005 Houston show scheduled to arrive in stores on November 16th. huzzah!
70′s teen idol Shaun Cassidy made a rare TV appearance on Oprah this past week. It was great to see him after all these years. He seemed to have a good perspective on his fame and appeared humble before all the adoring middle-aged moms in the audience. heh.
seeing Shaun on the show gave me a reason to dig up his 1980 release, WASP which was produced by Todd Rundgren. It’s just as bad as I remembered. heh. Some may think that Rundgren ruined Cassidy’s career with this left-turn of a record but the truth is that Cassidy’s music career already stalled by the time Rundgren got his hands on him. But then again, with a crappy David Bowie cover such as this one, Rundgren sure didn’t help the cause.
for today’s RetroBlog song of the day – here’s Shaun’s awful (but funny in that oh so bad way) cover of Rebel, Rebel from the album, WASP.
You’ve got your mother in a whirl
She’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl
Hey babe, your hair’s alright
Hey babe, let’s go out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they’re playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I’m wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Rebel Rebel, you’ve torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
It’s hard to believe that Rod Stewart is on his 5th volume of his Great American Songbook album series. Come on, who’s buying this crap? There’s absolutely no creativity involved in this project and his vocals are pretty much straight interpretations of these old standards. It’s sad what this ol’ rocker has become. whatever sells, right Rod?
For those that missed it, here’s Stewart’s performance (if you can call it that) of “I Get a Kick out of You” from last night’s Dancing With the Stars.
Frontiers Records has officially confirmed that a new YES album is on the way. It’s not mentioned in the press release but I’ve heard that Trevor Horn is slated as producer of the album. It’s a bit sad that Jon Anderson isn’t involved with this but I won’t judge until I hear the finished product.
YES Signs New Worldwide Recording Deal with Frontiers Records
New Studio CD, First In Nearly A Decade, Slated For 2011 HOLLYWOOD, CA – Grammy Award winners YES, one of the most influential and ground-breaking progressive rock ‘n roll bands, today announced the signing of a new worldwide recording deal with the Italian-based record label, Frontiers Records. Songs such as “Roundabout”, “I’ve Seen All Good People”, “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, and countless others, have served to place the group upon the pantheon of rock ‘n roll history. But history is still yet to be written, because Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White, along with Oliver Wakeman (Rick Wakeman’s son) and new lead singer Benoit David, will enter the studio to record the group’s first new CD in a decade. It is anticipated for release before Summer 2011.
Frontiers Records President Serafino Perugino said: “I am truly honored and excited to have these Rock and Roll pioneers on the label. YES have written some fabulous pages in the history of this music and I look forward to keep on writing new exciting chapters with them!”
“Having the two new guys in the line-up has inspired the impetus behind the need for YES to return to the studio,” explains Chris Squire, while Steve Howe adds, “The new lineup has shown that we can operate well as a touring band, so now to expand that to recording would broaden our repertoire and the inclusion of Oliver and Benoit on new recordings will show a new leaf in YES music’s continuing development.”
One of the most popular concert attractions of all-time YES’s remarkable career has served to re-define the boundaries of rock. Proving to be a dominant force for more than four decades, YES has sold over 33 million albums worldwide. Their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical style has made each of the group’s players are virtuosos in their own right.
