Around the Tubes: November 9, 2024

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins, Nia Smith, Olivia Newton-John, Carpenters, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Alice Phoebe Lou.

- The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins, a documentary film that tells the story of the prolific virtuoso session pianist Nicky Hopkins, is now available to stream in North America on Amazon and additional TVOD/PPV platforms. The Session Man will also be released on DVD in December 2024. For all viewing information, please visit www.thesessionmanfilm.com.  “Often described as ‘THE GOLDEN ERA of ROCK and ROLL,’ the road to success was littered with wannabe rock stars who believed that being self-taught on guitar or drums was a sure road to stardom. Ironically, many rock musicians from that era that became household names were self-taught. But others like Elton John and Nicky Hopkins were classically trained at respected institutions like The Royal Academy of Music in London. Unlike Elton, Nicky Hopkins was a side man. As a session pianist, his prolific output in the recording studio – over 250 albums – is testimony to the esteem that his virtuoso piano skills was held in by rock musicians and record producers. Whilst Nicky was celebrated by his peers, he was not a famous name. As Bob Lefsetz said about THE SESSION MAN film, ‘If your eyes light up when you hear the name Nicky Hopkins, you will want to see this movie.’"– Director Mike Treen

- British Musician Nia Smith has released her highly anticipated debut EP Give Up The Fear, with transcendent new single “Don’t Cry.” On her long-awaited 5 track debut EP, Nia Smith is making soaring, cinematic, soulful songs with raw and open lyrics about her life, all delivered through her distinct, unfaltering voice.   Nia worked with an impressive team of collaborators on the EP including Ed Thomas (known for his work with Jorja Smith, Stormzy), Violet Skies (Diana Ross, Cat Burns) and Jimmy Napes (Alicia Keys, Sam Smith).  Listen to Give Up The Fear: HERE.  Listen to “Don’t Cry”: HERE.

-  Just in time for the holidays, the newest single from Angels in the Snow, Olivia Newton-John’s highly-awaited holiday album, arrives, adding a special warmth to the season’s chill. “All Through the Night (Reimagined),” featuring the legendary Michael McDonald, is out today, blending Olivia’s angelic voice with McDonald’s soulful, unmistakable sound. This reimagined duet captures the spirit of a classic, bringing two Grammy-winning icons together for a song that feels both timeless and new.  McDonald, a five-time GRAMMY®-winner and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is known for his work with the Doobie Brothers and for solo hits like “I Keep Forgettin’” and “On My Own.” Now, in this holiday duet, he lends his signature voice to Olivia’s rendition of “All Through the Night.” The track releases today on all major streaming platforms, accompanied by a touching lyric video that captures the song’s warmth and reflective spirit. (Stream the single and pre-order the album HERE). 

- A&M/UMe celebrates the upcoming holidays in a merry big way with the release of the Carpenters’ Christmas Once More, an all-new Christmas collection featuring 16 timeless Carpenters holiday classics personally curated by Richard Carpenter. This newly remixed and remastered 16-track set includes perennial Carpenters holiday favorites such as “Sleigh Ride,” “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays,” Richard's own “Merry Christmas, Darling” featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and many more.  All 16 tracks, which have been culled from the Carpenters’ most cherished holiday albums, are available now in multiple formats, including CD, black vinyl, limited-edition gold vinyl, digital download, streaming, and ATMOS. Listen to or order Carpenters’ Christmas Once More HERE.

- Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ little known 1974 concert album, Saturnight: Live from Tokyo, is scheduled for release in the U.S. for the first time ever, 50 years after it was released only in Japan, due to contractual restrictions. Remastered from the original production master for the first time since its original release, the record will go on sale exclusively as part of Record Store Day’s Black Friday annual event on November 29^th. It will be available as an “RSD First” release on 180-gram Orange Splatter color vinyl. The LP has been cut at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios and will be packaged for the first time in a gatefold sleeve that includes lyrics and new liner notes from the band’s 1974 tour manager, Carl Miller, and bassist Bruce Lynch.  To pre-order or find it at a record store near you, visit: https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/602468083009.  Saturnight was recorded on June 22^nd, 1974, at Sun Plaza Hall in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan on the Japanese leg of Cat’s 1974 “Bamboozle World Tour.” The tour comprised 50 shows across North America, Europe, Australia and Japan to support the release of Buddha and the Chocolate Box. Cat had long felt an affinity with the aesthetic elegance and spiritual depth of Japanese culture, especially the principles of meditation and reflection upon which their traditions of poetry, design and craftsmanship are founded.

- Globally adored singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou idealizes a love story that hasn't even begun on “Better.” Buoyant melodies pave the way for Alice's honeyed vocals as she depicts the early, untouchable bliss of a new love that won’t necessarily stand the test of time. Nostalgic, vintage keys  dress the track in thoughts of cherished memories, sweetening the mirage of intense, fleeting connections — Stream.  Recorded at Cedar Creek Studio in Austin, TX while on the road with Clairo, the independently released track sees Alice joined by David Parry on guitar, Dekel Adin on bass and percussion, and Ziv Yamin on drums and piano.

Around the Tubes: November 2, 2024

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Dear Santa, The Series, Oyate Woyaka, Wicked, Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler, Lauren Spencer Smith, The Weeknd, Lykke Li

-  TRAVERSE32 and Sweet World Films today announced that the second season of the acclaimed television program “Dear Santa, The Series” will debut on all ABC Owned Television Stations this November and will also be available on Hulu this holiday season. [Press downloads.]  Like the critically acclaimed Christmas documentary “Dear Santa” — which was streamed on Hulu and was included on the Entertainment Weekly, Town and Country, Women’s Health and Men's Health magazines’ lists of must-watch holiday films — “Dear Santa, The Series” focuses on the U. S. Postal Service’s beloved 112-year-old USPS Operation Santa program. This is the latest installment of the family-friendly documentary series which premiered during the 2022 holiday season.  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT37zJL9zUY 

- Oyate Woyaka is available to stream on the PBS Passport app starting November 2. You can also check local listings at www.pbs.org/stations for local broadcast dates and times.   Indigenous languages are at risk -- and without immense support, Lakota, the language of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, will likely be extinct within the next fifteen years. Oyate Woyaka highlights how valuable indigenous language and culture is to the world. In addition to restoring the language within the community and using it to heal from historical trauma, Indigenous languages can help the world address biodiversity loss, mental health and climate change.  Indigenous culture has a long history of suppression due to racism and colonization. In July 2021, the Oyate Woyaka production team followed the Sicangu Oyate as they brought home the human remains of nine children from the Carlisle Boarding School cemetery for ceremony and burial in their ancestral land. The children had been left there for 142 years. As horrifying as this history is, it still lives in the present day lives of indigenous people. Many of the elders in Oyate Woyaka survived boarding schools. The film allows those elders to express the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of these events and how we can move forward, together, as a nation.

- After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season.  Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.  Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. 

 

- Multi-platinum singers, songwriters, and producers Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler release their long-awaited brent iii album, the third part of their beloved brent series and their first-ever collaborative album together. The highly-anticipated 11-track project completes the brent trilogy five years after the first brent EP’s release and breakout success, and includes their new single “ashes & rust,” which has been building buzz online amongst fans. Listen to brent iii out now via Mercury Records HERE.  On the album, Chelsea shares, “brent isn’t just a comforting and safe place for us, it has also become one for so many fans. There’s a lot of intimacy, authenticity, love, and friendship embedded in brent iii.” Jeremy chimes in, saying, “brent iii is the culmination of everything we’ve been tapping into and making music about. I hope you listen to it, and it colors your moments, memories, and experiences. Maybe it can make things a little better.”

- Ready to speak her truth like never before, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith returns with an honest and open-hearted new single entitled “small” out now via Island/Republic. It notably marks her first release since the 2023 arrival of her acclaimed full-length debut LP, Mirror, and it hints at much more to come.  Listen HERE.  “small” is definitely one of the most personal songs I've ever written. It’s about anyone who's felt the need to be a smaller version of themself to fit in society, whether it’s body image or being quiet in a crowded room. It’s an issue that isn't always talked about, so my hopes are that this song can help break that barrier."

- The Weeknd debuts his highly anticipated song and music video for “São Paulo” featuring Brazilian superstar Anitta. Watch it HERE. Directed by the visionary FREEKA, the video takes a dark, jarring turn as Anitta, who is pregnant in the storyline, reveals an ever-emerging face within her belly. This bizarre and haunting imagery amplifies another bold visual chapter for The Weeknd. Alongside the video premiere, “São Paulo” will be available on all streaming platforms worldwide.  The release of “São Paulo” follows a series of record-breaking accomplishments for The Weeknd. He recently surpassed his own record as the artist with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify, with over 120 million monthly listeners. This milestone comes on the heels of chart-topping releases like “Timeless” featuring Playboi Carti, produced by Pharrell Williams, which debuted in the top 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “Dancing in the Flames.” Both tracks are set to appear on his upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.

- Lykke Li has shared the reverse engineered version of her latest, immersive, audiovisual album EYEYE (2022) (pronounced EYE). The new version, ƎYƎYƎ, is out today via Play It Again Sam / Crush Music. The new album is accompanied with the re-release of her 40-minute audio-visual Odyssey EYEYE ODYSSEY for the first time ever on virtual platforms.  The new album arrives with "TЯAƎH ЯUOY OT YAWHӘIH", featuring NATURE via Sounds Right, in collaboration with the music industry’s climate foundation EarthPercent. ‘NATURE’ officially launched as a musical artist on major streaming platforms through Sounds Right, an initiative from the Museum for the United Nations - UN Live and partners, which allows nature to generate royalties and funding from her own sounds.  Watch the EYEYE ODYSSEY video

 

Transmissions from Pluto - Everything Coming to Pluto TV in November 2024

 

Thanksgiving is all about spending priceless time with friends and family, and Pluto TV understands that better than anyone—delivering cherished moments and timeless entertainment, always for free. This month, we’re serving up a delicious selection of TV shows, movies, and new channels, including the return of our Season’s Greetings category and a cornucopia of fresh options. For those inspired to trace their roots, check out PBS Genealogy to explore the fascinating and emotional histories of the famous and not-so-famous. And if the dinner conversation turns competitive (as it often does), settle it with our new Family Feud channel, hosted by Steve Harvey. Whether you’re gathering for a cozy movie night or need a break from the holiday chaos, Pluto TV has you covered. And, as a special holiday gift to you, Pluto TV is bringing back Pluto TV 007! Dive into 20 official James Bond films, featuring Daniel Craig in No Time to Die, now streaming for FREE. Whether you're a longtime James Bond fan or just discovering the legend, enjoy the 007 experience on Pluto TV.

HOME SWEET STREAMING

There is plenty to be thankful for this November on Pluto TV, no matter if your family feels like the Brady Bunch or more like something out of The Twilight Zone. And, at the low price of FREE, we’re making you an offer you can’t refuse (as the Corleones would say). Spend some time on the ranch with the Duttons in Yellowstone or laugh along with the unconventional Bundys in Married with Children. If your family gatherings are a bit chaotic, you'll feel right at home with The Conners and King of Queens. Feeling nostalgic? Sister, Sister and Sabrina the Teenage Witch bring back those ‘90s vibes. So grab the remote (and maybe a slice of pie), and watch Pluto TV bring families of all shapes, sizes, and kinds together for a Thanksgiving full of laughs, drama, and plenty of entertainment.

24/7 Channels Classic TV: Families: The Brady Bunch, Married with Children, Mama’s Family, All in the Family Sitcom Legends: The King of Queens, The Conners, The Neighborhood, Man with a Plan TV Land Sitcoms: Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Kim’s Convenience Black Classics: Sister, Sister; Moesha; The Parkers; Webster; One on One Kids Category Channels: Nickelodeon Pluto TV, 90s Kids, Pokémon, Strawberry Shortcake and Friends Movies & Marathons The Godfather Trilogy: On Pluto TV Crime Movies & On Demand Yellowstone Seasons 1-4: Nov. 7-10 on More TV Drama The Twilight Zone Marathon: Nov. 27-Dec. 1 on Classic TV Drama

FAST FEAST

Pluto TV has everything you need for a stress-free Thanksgiving holiday, starting with dinner preparations and all the way through the food-coma movie marathon at the end of the night. “Kick Off” Thanksgiving Break with UEFA Champions League Matches on Golazo Network 11/26 at 3:00 PM ET: Inter vs. RB Leipzig 11/27 at 3:00 PM ET: Monaco vs. Benfica Thanksgiving Prep Sometimes watching someone else prepare a Thanksgiving feast is more fun than actually doing it yourself. All month, tune in to Pluto TV Food and America’s Test Kitchen for Thanksgiving themed food episodes, and check out the rest of our Food + Home category for more culinary creations all year round. Thanksgiving Day: November 28th Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade: For the second year in a row, Pluto TV will be broadcasting the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade LIVE starting at 9am ET on Pluto TV Christmas. Planes, Trains & Automobiles: A Pluto TV tradition! We will be streaming THE Thanksgiving movie three times in a row for the third consecutive year, starting at 8pm ET on Pluto TV Comedy. Hanks-Giving: Today we are thankful for the iconic Tom Hanks. Tune in to Pluto TV Icons for a Tom Hanks marathon featuring movies including A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan and more. Thanks-Giggling: Turkey got you feeling a little loopy? Keep the giggles going with Thanksgiving themed episodes of comedy favorites on channels like Cheers + Frasier, Pluto TV Pranks, Sitcom Legends, TV Land Sitcoms, More TV Sitcoms and Black Throwbacks. Thanksgiving Weekend Marathons: Thursday-Sunday More TV Drama: NCIS  This Old House: Cozy Homes Marathon Stories by AMC: Breaking Bad Pluto TV Crime Drama: Numbers, Without a Trace, FBI More Crime Drama: Rizzoli & Isles, The Closer, Elementary

PREPPING FOR LAUNCH

Here are some of the new channels and movies launching throughout November on Pluto TV.

NEW CHANNELS Pluto TV 007 The action, cars, and shaken (not stirred) martinis of the world’s greatest super spy are now on Pluto TV 007. Watch Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Pluto TV 007 en español La acción, los autos, los martinis y el traje impecable del espía más famoso del mundo están ahora en Pluto TV 007 en español. Mira a Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, y Daniel Craig las 24 horas del día, 7 días a la semana. Family Feud Hosted by Steve Harvey, two families battle it out by answering survey questions for a chance to win cash and prizes. PBS Genealogy PBS Genealogy explores the surprising and emotional histories of the famous and not-so-famous. Featuring Finding Your Roots, We’ll Meet Again, and other series, all available 24/7, PBS Genealogy will inspire you to explore your own story!

🎉⭐SEASON’S GREETINGS ⭐🎉 Pluto TV’s Season’s Greetings category returns November 1st, bringing holiday warmth right to your screen. Our festive lineup includes two cozy fireplace channels—Crackling Fireplace and Festive Fireplace—for the perfect ambiance, plus a joyful mix of movies, music, favorite cooking shows, and holiday classics like Pluto TV Christmas, Cine Navideño, and Home for the Holidays. With endless holiday cheer to stream, Pluto TV is the gift that keeps on giving all season long.

MOVIES Diamonds Are Forever Die Another Day Dr. No For Your Eyes Only Goldeneye Licence To Kill Live And Let Die The Living Daylights The Man With The Golden Gun Moonraker Octopussy On Her Majesty's Secret Service Quantum Of Solace The Spy Who Loved Me Thunderball Tomorrow Never Dies A View To A Kill The World Is Not Enough You Only Live Twice No Time To Die Gladiator 1941 30 Days Of Night (2007) 30 Days Of Night: Dark Days 3000 Miles To Graceland A Few Good Men A Girl Like Grace A Mighty Wind Across The Universe All Styles All The Pretty Horses American Outlaws Apocalypto Awakenings Basic Big Fish Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Boogie Nights Bottle Rocket Chef Cloud Atlas Coraline Creation Double Team Driven Empire Of The Sun The End Of The Affair The Exorcist Faceless After Dark The Fan Fear Of A Black Hat Filly Brown The Fisher King Fools Rush In (1997) Free State Of Jones Geronimo: An American Legend Go (1999) Godzilla (1998) Godzilla (2000) Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah Godzilla, Mothra, And King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack Godzilla: Final WarsGrace: The Possession The Grey Grumpier Old Men Grumpy Old Men The Guns Of Navarone Heat Heist (2001) Hellboy (2004) Hesher Hoop Dreams Hotel Artemis Hurt Locker, The Hyena Road Insidious Insidious: Chapter 2 Jane Got A Gun Johnny Mnemonic Julie & Julia Knives Out A League Of Their Own Little Women (1994) Looper Luv Man Of The Year Miles Ahead Moon Not Easily Broken Once Upon A Time In Mexico Only Lovers Left Alive Paradise Hills Passengers (2008) Philadelphia Playing For Keeps (2012) Predestination The Professional (1994) Punchline (1988) Rachel Getting Married The Raid: Redemption The Raid 2 Redbelt Rough Night Runaway Jury Season Of The Witch Secret Window Seems Like Old Times Showdown At The Grand Sleepless In Seattle Social Network, The Starship Troopers Steel Magnolias (1989) Taxi Driver The Bye Bye Man The Getaway The Harder They Come The Last Letter The Other Boleyn Girl The Tailor Of Panama The Tourist This Beautiful Fantastic This Is Spinal Tap Thunderheart Tigerland Two For The Money Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas Tyler Perry's A Madea Family Funeral Ultraviolet (2006) Universal Soldier: The Return Vantage Point Waiting For Guffman Way We Were, The When We Were Kings Who's Harry Crumb? Wild Target Wild Things

Around the Tubes: September 26, 2024

   

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Lyn Lapid, Weezer, Brenda Lee, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Des Bishop.

-  Rising singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Lyn Lapid is back today with her latest single “buttons,” which is released alongside a visualizer video—listen HERE & watch HERE.  On the meaning behind the song, Lyn says, “I feel like ‘buttons’ is the coziest song I’ve ever put out. It’s about the warm feelings of having a crush on someone you don’t really know anything about. There’s something fun about the mystery and excitement of wanting to get close to someone you admire. I’ve recently started having those feelings for the first time after a really long time and I do miss the feeling, at least in the early stages of having a crush. Something about the childishness of it is refreshing, and I feel like ‘buttons’ perfectly captures that.”

- Ahead of the eagerly anticipated release of the 30^th Anniversary Edition box set of the band’s seminal Blue Album (November 1 via Geffen/UMe), Weezer has shared the only known band recording of “Superman” (Garage Practice), one of their earliest songs. Recorded during band practice in June 1992 the recording is a fascinating snapshot into the earliest days of the band rehearsing in their garage just months after forming.   Listen to “Superman” (Garage Practice).  Pre-order the Blue Album (30^th Anniversary Edition) here: https://weezer.lnk.to/Blue30PR.  “With these garage rehearsals, we have a totally unique and fleeting glimpse into the earliest dynamics of Weezer,” writes longtime friend, collaborator, and de facto band historian Karl Koch in the liner notes accompanying this definitive release. “The decision to roll tape ‘live’ in the garage seems to have been random, and it only happened twice. The very existence of these recordings depended on pure luck, as the tapes were apparently lost not long after I duped them back then.”

 

- Brenda Lee’s iconic holiday hit, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” first recorded 66 years ago, has been released today in Spanish for the first time, thanks to an innovative use of responsibly-trained AI technology.  “Noche Buena y Navidad” was refreshed under the production of acclaimed four-time Latin GRAMMY Award-winning producer, Auero Baqueiro, keeping the original music and background vocals while replacing Lee’s original lead vocals with a newly translated Spanish language vocal, created using a new AI vocal model, derived from her voice that has been fully approved by Lee.  “Noche Buena y Navidad” (Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree) is available today via MCA Nashville/UMe. Listen here: https://brendalee.lnk.to/NocheBuenayNavidadPR

- GRAMMY® Award winners and Country Music Hall of Fame inductees The Oak Ridge Boys are thrilled to announce the release of their highly anticipated new album, Mama’s Boys, out today via Lightning Rod/Thirty Tigers. This project marks their fifth collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb and was recorded at the iconic RCA Studio A and Blackbird Studios in Nashville. Ahead of the album release, The Oak Ridge Boys built excitement by unveiling a series of standout singles, including the heartfelt “I Thought About You, Lord” featuring Willie Nelson, the soulful “Come On Home,” and the nostalgic “That’s The Way Mama Made It.”  To listen/download/stream: orcd.co/mamasboys.

- Des Bishop’s new comedy special, Of All People, is getting a second wind, coming out with re-release partner, 800 Pound Gorilla Media on October 22, 2024. Of All People is an hour of original stand-up and a culmination of years of experience on stage all over including in Queens, Ireland, and China. Bishop crafts high-energy stories and jokes, bringing the audience on a wildly entertaining ride through tales of his international travels and the gap between his looks and attitude. The openness and honesty of his presenting style combined with his restless imagination and perceptive observations make Des Bishop a must-see for fans of unique, insightful and provocative comedy.  Des Bishop’s material often focuses on cultural differences he noticed being a transplant into Irish Society from Queens, NY at a young age. He always incorporates a lot of material about language. He is likely the only comic many of us will see doing some of the set in Mandarin and some in Irish, which he learned so he could do comedy while living in China and Ireland. He spent 1 year in China to learn Mandarin and 1 year in Ireland to learn Irish, and he’s done 60 minutes of comedy in both languages. And he remains an international presence, with a home and massive career in Ireland, and a life in the United States.   Of All People is the third hour from Des Bishop. You can see the special as of Oct 22, 2024, on the 800 Pound Gorilla Media YouTube channel and comedy hub.