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Finally after months of fan speculation, Paul McCartney’s management has posted an official announcement concerning the next releases in the “Archive Collection” series. MPL/Concord Records will be releasing deluxe remastered versions of McCartney (1970) and McCartney II (1980) on June 7th, 2011.

Looks like the “super deluxe” editons for both albums are the way to go for McCartney fans since it’ll include the bonus DVDs as well as the 128-page hardbound book. My wallet will be taking a hit when getting both editions but at least Concord will be spreading these re-releases out so that I’ll have time to *save up* for the next set of releases. Hopefully the next batch will include “Ram” and “Wings over America”. WOA with it’s original muffled mid-range-y sound definitely could use a new remix or better quality remastering job.

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Here’s a quick little tidbit for all you HTC Droid Eris users out there. I’ve been having problems getting the phone to recognize our home router (a linksys WRT160N). I initially thought that the wifi component of my phone went bad or something. We have several other wireless devices that connect with our router just fine including the Nintendo Wii, our blu-ray player and two other laptops. So, I didn’t think the router was an issue. But turns out there’s a little security setting on the router that prevented the HTC Eris from recognizing the wireless signal. I can’t really explain the reason why but changing the security encryption from “TKIP or AES” to just “AES” fixed the problem.
I believe the router default setting is “TKIP or AES” so you will have to manually change this setting if you run into this issue. Again, my wireless router is a wireless-N device with security WPA2 activated and SSID on.

anyway, thought I’d post this just in case someone else out there is pulling their hair out over this matter.

OK, this song’s got me hooked! I can’t keep it off rotation on my lil’ mp3 player. a tremendous song with a positive message. It’s pretty obvious Francesca Battistelli’s got talent. Definitely check her music out. Her latest album Hundred More Years is superb.

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please ‘Cause I can’t find my phone

This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I’ve gotta trust you know exactly what You’re doing
Might not be what I would choose but this is the stuff You use…
- This is the Stuff (Battistelli, Eskelin, Wood)

She’s also got some live dates scheduled as well:

Fri 04/29/11 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall Civic Center
Sat 04/30/11 San Antonio, TX Sea World Of Texas
Sun 05/08/11 Conroe, TX The Ark
Fri 05/20/11 Livermore, CA Cornerstone Church
Sat 05/21/11 Madera, CA Grace Community Church
Sun 05/22/11 Riverside, CA Harvest Christian Fellowship
Fri 06/03/11 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
Sat 06/04/11 Chattanooga, TN Camp Jordan Park
Fri 06/24/11 Ocean Grove, NJ Bridgefest Festival Grounds
Sat 06/25/11 Ionia, MI Ionia Fairgrounds
Fri 07/01/11 Shirleysburg, PA Agape Farm Campground
Sat 07/16/11 Willmar, MN Willmar Civic Center
Sat 07/23/11 Enumclaw, WA Enumclaw Expo Center
Fri 07/29/11 Schaumburg, IL Alexian Field
Thu 08/04/11 Monterey, CA Laguna Seca Rec. Area
Sat 08/13/11 Muskegon, MI Heritage Landing
Fri 09/09/11 Lake Buena Vista, FL Disney World

The official tracklist of Kate Bush’s upcoming re-recordings album has been posted. Check it out:

Flower Of The Mountain (originally titled “This Sensual World”)
The Song Of Solomon
Deeper Understanding
Lily
The Red Shoes
This Woman’s Work
Moments Of Pleasure
Never Be Mine
Top Of The City
And So Is Love
Rubberband Girl

The new album, Director’s Cut, will be released May 16th.

“Flower Of The Mountain” is a new version of “This Sensual World” which now includes a passage from James Joyce’s book Ulysses. Bush originally had planned to use the text back when she first recorded the song but wasn’t able to get permission from Joyce’s estate until now.

and check out the new version of “Deeper Understanding” via youtube:

I guess as a Yes fan, “changing lineups” is just business as usual. So it should come as no surprise then to see that keyboardist Oliver Wakeman (who’s been with the group for 3 years) is being replaced by “Drama” alumni, Geoff Downes. Yes, that’s right, the keytar-ist from Asia.

If I had to guess, I’m thinking that Downes saw how Steve Howe was getting “double pay” by playing in both Yes and Asia and wanted in on the action. hey, ya can’t blame the guy for wanting to get paid especially in this economy.

Anyway, Oliver Wakeman posted an official statement on his facebook page about what happened:
Oliver would firstly like to thank all the people who have taken the trouble to write to him with their concerns over the current YES rumours and press releases that have been circulating around the web.
An official statement will be forthcoming but we would like to at least put some facts forward.
Oliver is not voluntarily leaving YES and, as of this moment in time, we do not know which of Oliver’s many contributions to the recording will exist on the new YES record.
Oliver wanted to stay focused on the music for the ‘Rite of Spring’ tour and felt his primary role was to put on the best possible show for the fans who have paid to see the band.
As soon as the position becomes clear we will be posting more information on the new Facebook page and the official website (oliverwakeman.co.uk).
Thanks again for all the support that has been made for Oliver either through direct emails to the website, via Facebook and MySpace, forums or the web in general. Oliver has been very touched by the support shown for him through this unsettling period.

The band will be releasing their latest album (produced by Trevor Horn), Fly From Here, on July 12th. The new lineup of Yes recently posted a photo with producer Trevor Horn. Check it out.

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