Around the Tubes: September 16, 2023

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Black Cake, Jack Johnson, Noah Kahan, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley And The Wailers, The Who, and Van Morrison.

- Hulu has debuted the key art for the upcoming Original series "Black Cake," based on Charmaine Wilkerson's New York Times-bestselling novel.  The series premieres with three episodes on November 1, with new episodes launching weekly, only on Hulu.  Based on The New York Times-bestselling book by Charmaine Wilkerson, “Black Cake” is a family drama wrapped in a murder mystery with a diverse cast of characters and a global setting, from Marissa Jo Cerar, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films, and Aaron Kaplan's Kapital Entertainment. The story takes place in Jamaica, Italy, Scotland, England and Southern California. Cerar wrote the adaptation and serves as showrunner on the series, which spans decades. In the late 1960s, a runaway bride named Covey disappears into the surf off the coast of Jamaica and is feared drowned or a fugitive on the run for her husband’s murder. In present day California, a widow named Eleanor Bennett, loses her battle with cancer, leaving her two estranged children, Byron and Benny, a flash drive that holds previously untold stories of her journey from the Caribbean to America. These stories, narrated by Eleanor, shock her children and challenge everything they thought they knew about their family’s origin.

- Jack Johnson’s third live album Songs for Maui, a benefit album to support those affected by the Maui fires, is digitally out today. Featuring Hawaii’s own Paula Fuga and John Cruz, Songs For Maui features a ten-track collection of chart-topping songs recorded live on location at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center’s Castle Theater during Johnson’s special 2012 Hawaiian Islands tour. Listen here: https://JackJohnson.lnk.to/SFM.  “We know it will be a long road ahead for those affected by the fires. We hope the positive energy from this show can carry on to help raise funds and support families in need. Aloha, Jack” - Following a surprise performance together at his recent sold-out show at Los Angeles’ Greek Theater, Noah Kahan enlisted Lizzy McAlpine for a newly recorded version of his deeply moving fan favorite, “Call Your Mom,” officially out now—listen HERE.  Written about giving unconditional support to a loved one during life’s darkest moments, the touching song reaches new heights with this highly anticipated collaboration. The two singer/songwriters’ voices perfectly blend together and capture the lyrics’ powerful emotions, as they plead, “Don’t let this darkness fool you, all lights turned off can be turned on. I’ll drive, I’ll drive all night. I’ll call your mom.” - September 12th, 2023, marks 20 years since Johnny Cash passed away, but the Man in Black’s legacy endures. His hard-fought wisdom and his rich baritone have made him one of the most respected figures in post-World War II country music. He wasn’t Nashville, he wasn’t rock n’ roll, and he wasn’t honky tonk. He was simply Johnny Cash, and he first made a name for himself with a series of singles for Sun Records that the label eventually anthologized and released in 1958 as his aptly-titled sophomore album, Johnny Cash - Sings The Songs That Made Him Famous.  On October 13, 2023, Sun will once again release this career-making recording, originally issued on the label 65 years ago. Beyond a reissue, this is a ceremonial release remastered from the original tapes and exquisitely packaged with its classic artwork elegantly complemented by exclusive, tangerine orange vinyl. Album is available for preorder here - CATCH A FIRE, Bob Marley And The Wailers' seminal first release on Island Records, universally regarded as the album that put reggae music on the global stage, is being re-issued via UMe on November 3rd to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its original release in 1973. “Slave Driver,” one of the most powerful tracks on the album, will be released as a single, accompanied by remarkable live performance footage recently unearthed from the legendary Edmonton show in England in 1973.  A hugely anticipated new film, BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE, celebrating the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity, is in theatres on January 12, 2024. Produced by Ziggy Marley, Cedella Marley, and Rita Marley, and with Stephen Marley as the music supervisor, the film tells the inspirational story of how Bob overcame huge adversity to become one of the world’s most revered musical and cultural giants through the power and beauty of his revolutionary music. Produced in partnership with the Marley family, the film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob and Lashana Lynch as his wife, Rita.  Stream Slave Driver (The Sundown Theatre in Edmonton, England. May 1973) HERE.  Pre-Order Catch A Fire’s 50th Anniversary Editions HERE - The suite of songs by The Who on which, more than half a century ago, Pete Townshend foresaw the invention of the internet, of virtual reality and pandemic-style lockdown, is heard as he intended for the first time. UMe has released Who's Next/Life House as a lavish, multi-format Super Deluxe edition and is now available to order HERE.  Featuring 155 tracks, of which 89 are previously unreleased and 57 feature fresh remixes, the set will delight longtime Who fans with its long-sought, complete picture of Townshend's incredibly prescient songwriting, while captivating a new audience with his visionary description of a future that has, in many ways, come true. It features all of his songs, in their many stages of development, from the abandoned, audacious Life House project, started In 1969 as a follow-up to The Who's epic Tommy, and from the undisputed rock classic of 1971 that it evolved into, Who's Next. - Van Morrison unveils his 45th studio album, Accentuate the Positive, which is now available to pre-order HERE ahead of its release on November 3rd.  This electrifying homage to rock ‘n’ roll is launched alongside its first single, a new take on the Johnny Kidd classic ‘Shakin’ All Over’. Listen HERE.  Like this year’s acclaimed Moving On Skiffle, Accentuate The Positive sees Van Morrison returning to one of his childhood passions: this time rock ‘n’ roll. Growing up in Belfast shortly after World War II, he was immensely inspired by the heady sounds of 20th century blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Listening to artists such as Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and The Everly Brothers, it wasn’t long until Van was intuitively reinterpreting these sounds with his own band in local hometown venues.