On May 19, 2017, “Photo Finish” and “Republic Records” labels released “Connect the Dots”, the second MisterWives studio album. It was recorded in 2016, at “Rubyred Productions” in California, “DB Studios” in New York, and was produced by Butch Walker and Etienne Bowler.
Personnel:
Mandy Lee – lead vocals
Marc Campbell – lead guitar, gang vocals
Jesse Blum – keyboards, synthesizer, piano, gang vocals
William Hehir – bass guitar, gang vocals
Butch Walker – keyboards, synthesizer, gang vocals, programming, recording
Etienne Bowler – drums, percussion, synthesizer, gang vocals, programming
Todd Stopera – recording
Neal Avron – mixing
Joe Spix – art direction, design
Viktoriya Tsoy – design
Matt Burnette-Lemon – package production
Mary Ellen Matthews – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Mandy Lee, except where noted.
Machine – Mandy Lee, Etienne Bowler
Chasing This
Only Human
Drummer Boy
Revolution
My Brother
Out of Tune Piano – Mandy Lee, Etienne Bowler
Band Camp – Mandy Lee, Etienne Bowler, Marc Campbell
Let the Light In – Mandy Lee, Etienne Bowler
Coloring Outside the Lines – Mandy Lee, Marc Campbell
On May 19, 2017, “4AD” label released “Party”, the second Aldous Harding studio album. It was recorded in 2017, at “J&J Studio” in Bristol, and was produced by John Parish.
Personnel:
Aldous Harding – vocals, guitar, piano, art direction
John Parish – guitar, piano, drums, synth, backing vocals, mixing
Mike Hadreas – vocals
Fenne Lily – vocals
Bess Manley, Helen Cockill, Jamileh Ravaan, Jennifer Bell, Judith Jung, Nulla Honan – choir
Enrico Gabrielli – Rhodes electric piano, saxophone, bass clarinet
On May 5, 2017, “BMG Rights Management” label released “Pollinator”, the eleventh Blondie studio album. It was recorded 2015 – 2017, at “The magic Shop” in New York City, and was produced by John Congleton.
On May 5, 2017, “Rune Grammofon” label released “Towards Language”, the ninth Arve Henriksen album. It was recorded in 2016, and was produced by Jan Bang and Arve Henriksen.
Personnel:
Arve Henriksen – vocals, trumpet, electronics
Anna Maria Friman – vocals
Eivind Aarset – guitar, electronics
Erik Honoré – synth bass, synthesizer, mixing
Jan Bang – samples, programming, mixing
Johnny Skalleberg – recording
Helge Sten – mastering
Kim Hiorthøy – design
Track listing:
All tracks by Arve Henriksenm, Elvind Aarset and Jan Bang, except where noted.
Patient Zero
Groundsweii – Arve Henriksenm, Elvind Aarset, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré
On May 4, 2018, “Atlantic” label released “Attention Attention”, the sixth Shinedown studio album. It was recorded 2016 -2017, at “Ocean Industries Studios” in Charleston, South Carolina, and was produced by Eric Bass.
Personnel:
Brent Smith – lead vocals
Zach Myers – guitar, piano, backing vocals
Eric Bass – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Barry Kerch – drums
Eric Bass – engineer, mixing
Doug McKean – engineer
Eric Rickert – engineer
Ted Jensen – mastering
Mike Fasano – drum tech
HooGie J Donais – guitar tech
Track listing:
All tracks by Brent Smith and Eric Bass, except where noted.
The Entrance
Devil
Black Soul
Attention Attention – Brent Smith, Dave Bassett
Kill Your Conscience – Brent Smith, Eric Bass, Dave Bassett
Pyro – Brent Smith, Dave Bassett
Monsters
Darkside
Creatures – Brent Smith, Eric Bass, Dave Bassett, Barry Kerch
On April 28, 2017, “Republic Records” label released “Sad Clowns & Hillbillies”, the 23rd John Mellencamp studio album. It was recorded December 2015 – February 2016, at “Belmont Mall” in Belmont, Indiana, and was produced by John Mellencamp.
Personnel:
John Mellencamp – lead and backing vocals, guitar
Carlene Carter – duet and backing vocals
Andy York – acoustic and electric guitar
Mike Wanchic – acoustic and electric guitar
Izzy Stradlin – electric guitar
Troye Kinnett – keyboards, harmonica
John Gunnell – bass
Toby Myers – electric bass
Dane Clark – drums
Stan Lynch – drums
Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion
Miriam Sturm – violin
Martina McBride – vocal
Carlene Carter – vocal
Lily & Madeleine – backing vocals
Christie Brinkley – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by John Mellencamp, except where noted.
Mobile Blue – Mickey Newbury
Battle of Angels
Grandview – John Mellencamp, Bobby Clark
Indigo Sunset – John Mellencamp, Carlene Carter
What Kind of Man Am I
All Night talk Radio
Sugar Hill Mountain
You Are Blind
Damascus Road – Carlene Carter
Early Bird Café – Lane Tietgen
Sad Clowns
My Soul’s Got Wings – John Mellencamp, Woody Guthrie
On April 28, 2017, “Hopeless Records” label released “Makes Me Sick”, the ninth New Found Glory studio album. It was recorded in October 2016, and was produced by Aaron Sprinkle.
Personnel:
Jordan Pundik – lead vocals
Chad Gilbert – guitars, backing vocals
Ian Grushka – bass guitar
Cyrus Bolooki – drums, percussion
Aaron Sprinkle – engineer
Lee Unfried – drum engineer
Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
Troy Glessner – mastering
Brian Butler – artwork/layout
David Bean – photography
Aaron Mlasko – drum technician
Track listing:
All tracks by Jordan Pundik, Chad Gilbert, Ian Grushka and Cyrus Bolooki.
On April 16, 2023, Ahmad Jamal died aged 92. He was musician (piano), composer, bandleader, and educator, one of the most successful small-group leaders and one of the most important artists in jazz history. For his work Jamal received many awards including:
1959: Entertainment Award, Pittsburgh Junior Chamber of Commerce
1980: Distinguished Service Award, City of Washington D.C., Anacostia Neighborhood Museum
1986: Mellon Jazz Festival Salutes Ahmad Jamal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1987: Honorary Membership, Philippines Jazz Foundation
1994: American Jazz Masters award, National Endowment for the Arts
2001: Arts & Culture Recognition Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women
2001: Kelly-Strayhorn Gallery of Stars, for Achievements as Pianist and Composer, East Liberty Quarter Chamber of Commerce
2003: American Jazz Hall of Fame, New Jersey Jazz Society
2003: Gold Medallion, Steinway & Sons 150 Years Celebration
2007: Living Jazz Legend, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2007: Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, French government
2011: Down Beat Hall of Fame, 76th Readers Poll
2015: Honorary Doctorate of Music, The New England Conservatory
2017: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, The Recording Academy
2018: Leopolis Jazz Music Awards Leopolis Jazz Fest, Lviv
On March 29, 1982, “Harvest” label released “Blackout”, the eighth Scorpions studio album. It was recorded November 1981 – January 1982, at “Villa San Pecaire” in Saint Jacques, France, “Dierks Studios” in Stommeln, Germany, and was produced by Dieter Dierks. In 2017, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Blackout” and number 73, on its list of “The 100 Greatest Metal Albums Of All Time”. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIAA”.
Personnel:
Klaus Meine – lead vocals
Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitars, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars, lead guitars, backing vocals
musicalphabet 