Sunday November 27th, 2005
New CD's this past week:
- James Day - Remember when (EP)
Music news headlines this week:
LaBelle & Scott Pair For 'Purple' Song
Patti Labelle and Jill Scott are teaming
up to record the single "What
About Love?" from the Broadway musical version of "The Color Purple." The
duet will be released as a bonus track on a cast album due Jan 24 via
Angel Records.
The cast recording is being produced by Jay D. Saks, while the single is
produced by James Poyser. "This is the first time in over 20 years that a
Broadway score has yielded a song worthy of a label recording it as a
radio single," says David Munns, Chairman and CEO of EMI Music North
America, parent company of Angel Records.
According to Scott Sanders, lead producer of "The Color Purple," several
labels vied for the rights to record the show. "The very first meeting I
had with Bruce Lundvall and the EMI-Angel team, they articulated a
big-picture vision for taking 'The Color Purple' music to both a Broadway
and a mainstream audience," he says.
The musical, which is already running in previews and official opens Dec.
1 at the Broadway Theatre in New York, is directed by Gary Griffin and
produced by Oprah Winfrey, Sanders, Roy Furman and Quincy Jones. The show
also features original music and lyrics by composer/lyricists Brenda
Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
R&B Singer Ginuwine Aims For More Mature Sound
Ginuwine plans to further stoke the R&B
fires with his fifth studio album,
"Back II Da Basics," which hit stores last week.
"I want to bring R&B back up to the place where it needs to be," the
singer said during a stop on his current promotional tour. "I have
listened to radio and find it's missing a lot of that content, the
substance that was R&B music."
Having turned 30 last month, Ginuwine says he wanted to infuse "Back II Da
Basics" (Epic/Sony Urban Music) with a more mature vibe. "With age comes
wisdom," the husband and father says. "I'm not as wild as I used to be.
I'm able to express myself in a different way than before."
That is certainly the case when it comes to the album's lead single, "When
We Make Love" (No. 60 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart). The crooner --
whose repertoire includes crossover hits "Pony," "So Anxious" and
"Differences" -- evokes R&B legend Marvin Gaye on the slow and steamy
romantic missive.
Though Ginuwine's first priority is to "take care of my music situation,"
he says he still relishes acting and has some movie roles on the table. He
last appeared in the feature film "Honey." Previous acting stints include
the former CBS series "Martial Law" and the movie "Juwanna Mann."
In the meantime, he is eyeing a tour in early 2006.
R&B Group Hi5 Reunites With New Album
Rising out of the ashes like a magnificent
Phoenix, R&B group Hi5 is back
and ready to show the world their first album in 10 years titled, "The
Return." Best known for hits such as, "The Kissing Game" and "She's
Playing Hard to Get", the 5 member group is set to take back the game.
Homegrown from Texas, the members consist of Tony Thompson, J-Smuvee,
Deon, T.Murph and Joshun. Each member adds a unique aspect to the album
combining their talents for velvety tones, sleek melodies and polished
vocals.
Founding member Tony Thompson decided over 3 years ago that the group
should reunite and start making music again. 'This album has been a labor
of love and took us 2 ½ years to complete. We feel really good about it
and can't wait to reconnect with our fans and capture new ones", adds
Tony.
"The Return" reflects a more mature, sexy grown up feel with first single,
"Ten Toes Up" which is an instant classic with silky smooth lyrics and a
track to match. Even though the album is one for the die hard Hi5 fans,
the group doesn't forget about the BET, MTV and college audience with the
singles "Feelin' U" featuring fellow Texan hip hop superstars Mike Jones
and Paul Wall, "Rock Ya Body" featuring Bun B and "Run Da Club" featuring
Bizzy Bone and Paul Wall. Other notable songs include "Marinate" and "What
U Need". This album is definitely for grown folks and the youngsters
alike.
"The Return" was released on Tuesday, October 25th, 2005 and the group is
putting the finishing touches on their act to embark on a Nationwide
promotional tour beginning in New York.