News
Paste Magazine Video Premiere – Jackson Browne with Jack Johnson & John Cruz – Take it Easy
April 20, 2012
Check out the video of Johnson, Jackson Browne and John Cruz’s rendition of “Take It Easy” below. You can purchase the 14-track album on iTunes.
With over 18 million records sold and a canon of five studio albums, the 36-year old singer/songwriter Jack Johnson has spent more than a decade creating sun-kissed guitar melodies.
Johnson’s collaborative efforts with legendary artists from Willie Nelson, Eddie Vedder and Jackson Browne have been standouts-these infectiously intimate and energetic live performances define the authentic, positive vibrations of Johnson’s charmed decorum.
Impressively, Johnson’s efforts range from solar-powered recording studios, founding the environmental education non-profit Kokua Hawaii and the curation of Hawaii’s Kokua Festival. Through his philanthropic efforts, he has lead an army of social, creative and genuine efforts.
Now, Johnson is set to release Jack Johnson and Friends – Best of Kokua Festival. The album is a multi-genre effort that features performances from Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Damian Marley, Taj Mahal, G. Love, Ozomatli, Glenn Frey, Willie Nelson and Fred Rose.
All of the profits from Jack Johnson and Friends – Best of Kokua Festival will go to the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. In a press release, Johnson explained, “all of the musicians who’ve played at the Kokua Festival have a connection to the cause and the work we are doing with the foundation. When I hear the album, I feel so much gratitude for all the people who’ve been involved in the festival, and all the many ways they’ve contributed to Kokua.”
Read the full article at www.pastemagazine.com.
Link to Article Paste Magazine Video Premiere – Jackson Browne with Jack Johnson & John Cruz – Take it EasyOccupy This Album: a compilation of music by, for and inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement and the 99% OUT MAY 15TH
April 18, 2012
The City Winery in New York to Host Occupy This Album Record Release Party May 8th, 2012
The City Winery in New York to Host Occupy This Album
Record Release Party May 8th, 2012
Occupy This Album Embeddable Digital Sampler Available Now
Album Features Fan Favorite and Never Before Released Tracks From Ani DiFranco, UNKLE, David Amram, Joan Baez, Tom Chapin, Willie Nelson, Rain Phoenix, Patti Smith, Anti Flag, Girls Against Boys, Garland Jeffreys, New Party Systems Featuring Kyp Malone, Yoko Ono, Amanda Palmer, Dar Williams, The Mammals Featuring Pete Seeger, David Crosby & Graham Nash, George Martinez & The Global Block Collective, Jackson Browne, Yo La Tengo, The Guthrie Family, Matt Pless,
Filmmaker Michael Moore, Mogwai and More!
Legendary and emerging artists inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement have come together to lend their voices on Occupy This Album: a compilation of music by, for and inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement and the 99% (CD/Digital). Released by Music For Occupy through Razor & Tie distribution, the four-disc physical and 99-track digital compilation is due out May 15th. Proceeds received will go directly to the Occupy Wall Street movement, which began in the financial district of New York on Sept. 17, 2011. The movement can now be found in 951 cities in 83 countries on five continents. On May 8th The City Winery in New York will host a special night of performances by participating artists and surprise guests. Lineup and ticket information is provided below. An Occupy This Album free sampler is available here! More information available at www.musicforoccupy.org.
“The ability for people to unite behind the idea that our very constitution is supposed to guarantee freedom of speech is a wonderful sight to behold. We have to take our country back from the corporate state.” – Graham Nash
About Occupy This Album
Release Date: May 15th, 2012
Occupy This Album digital sampler available here.
Album artwork available here.
Occupy This Album will be released digitally (featuring 99-tracks + 1 hidden track) as well as physically (featuring 78-tracks) on a four-disc compilation distributed worldwide by Razor & Tie Records and can be pre-ordered here. Many of the tracks by both renowned and up-and-coming artists have never before been released. Additionally there are well-known songs that have been re-recorded and re-mastered and live-cuts for Occupy This Album. Full track list available below.
“This album is the voice of the 100 percent. It is unified and all-encompassing just as we would like our world to become.” – Jason Samel, Music For Occupy, Executive Producer.
What people are saying in anticipation of Occupy This Album
“Occupy Wall Street now has an A-list soundtrack: the compilation Occupy This Album.” – Rolling Stone
“Those cynics who told the incessant drummers of Occupy Wall Street in New York not to quit their day jobs might be reconsidering — they just got a record deal (of sorts).” – LA Times
“This Occupy Wall Street Tribute Album Has Way Too Many Amazing Musicians On It” – L Magazine
About Occupy This Album Record Release Party at City Winery May 8th
The City Winery and Music for Occupy present Occupy This Album Record Release Party on May 8th at City Winery (155 Varick St. New York, NY 10013). The evening’s program will include performances and collaborations by artists appearing on the upcoming release. The release party is a chance to inspire and celebrate through music the Occupy Wall Street movement and the 99% who’ve been adversely affected by the economic corruption that has permeated our Democracy, created a near insurmountable disparity in wealth, and hindered life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of an honest living for all.
Tickets are on sale now. Tickets include a bottle of the special wine ” Occupy This Wine” Cabernet Sauvignon and a free copy of Occupy This Album. Press tickets available upon request.
Performers include:
Ace Reporter
Aliza Hava
Angels of Vice
David Amram
DJ Logic
Fear Nuttin Band , and and Broken English.
George Martinez And The Global Block Collective
Grammy Award Winning Nanci Griffith accompanied by Pete and Maura Kenedy and the Clap Brothers
Greg Smith and The Broken English
Jennie Arnau
Joel Rafael
Los Cintron
Matt Pless
Michael Moore accompanied by Tom Chapin, Dave Dreiwitz, David Amram, and Kevin Twigg
Mike + Ruthy
My Pet Dragon
Nickodemus
Rejectionist Front
Richard Barone
Taj Weekes and Adowa
And special surprise guests!
Occupy This Album Disc 1
*Indicates previously unreleased track or version
1. Something’s Got to Give, Matt Pless*
2. Come On, Come On, Come On, Jackson Browne*
3. Occupation Freedom, George Martinez & The Global Block Collective*
4. People Have The Power (Live In Marseille), Patti Smith
5. Love Anthem (Only Love), My Pet Dragon
6. The Panic is On, Loudon Wainwright III
7. Occulture, Cosmonaut*
8. Save Us, papercranes (feat. Rain Phoenix)*
9. Smile (Get Up and Sing), Jay Samel*
10. This Is What America Looks Like, Tenderflex (DJ Logic & David Maurice) feat. Dynasty Electric, Ayler Young and Jay Rodriguez*
11. Big Little Wolfs, Aeroplane Pageant
12. Agent 99, Alex Emanuel*
13. Safety In Numbers, Deborah Harry*
14. Hey, can I Sleep On Your Futon?, Richard Barone*
15. Occupy Wall Street “Here Here Here”, Black Dragon*
16. White Gold, Ladytron
17. Greed, Gabriel Aldort*
18. Against The Machine, Taj Weekes & Adowa*
19. The Young Idealists, Lloyd Cole
20. A Peaceful Solution, Willie Nelson
Occupy This Album Disc 2
*Indicates previously unreleased track
1. The Times They Are A-Changin’, Michael Moore*
2. The World Is On Fire, Ace Reporter
3. Latter Days, The Middle Eight
4. Turn The Lights On, Chroma
5. Which Side Are You On? Ani DiFranco*
6. Well May The World Go, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger
7. Unified Tribes, Thievery Corporation*
8. Robber Barons, Thee Oh Sees
9. Saving Up To Go Bankrupt, Mike Rimbaud
10. Hell No (I’m Not Alright), Nanci Griffith*
11. We Stand As One, Joseph Arthur*
12. Cash Machine, Girls Against Boys
13. Rebellion Politik, Junkyard Empire
14. Nothing Recedes Like Progress, Anti-Flag
15. Rebel, Fear Nuttin Band
16. Under The Bridge, Jill Sobule with John Doe
17. Take A Stand, Stephan Said
18. The Answer, UNKLE
19. World Wide Rebel Songs, Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
20. If There Ever Was A Time, Third Eye Blind*
Occupy This Album Disc 3
*Indicates previously unreleased track
1. Move On Fast, Yoko Ono
2. If We Live, Build The Sun*
3. Fight The Good Fight, Our Lady Peace*
4. I Don’t Need Money, Julie B Bonnie*
5. The World Is Turning, Toots & The Maytals
6. A New York Minute, Nickodemus feat. The Real Live Show, Sadat X, ILLspokinN and Rabbi Darkside
7. I Ain’t No Brian Wilson, Gentleman Brawlers*
8. Industrial Park, The Mammals (feat. Pete Seeger)
9. Big Fish, Yo La Tengo & the Lost City Rumblers*
10. Occu-Pie, Harry Hayward*
11. Free, Mystic Bowie*
12. Oye Mi Voz, Los Cintron*
13. Walk On, Carolyn Wonderland
14. Coney Island Winter, Garland Jefferys
15. China Basin Digs, Joel Rafael
16. Walkin’, The Pimps of Joytime (feat. Roy Ayers)
17. River’s Gonna Rise, Warren Haynes Band*
18. Rich Man’s World, Immortal Technique
19. Staying Out And Calling In, Danger Field*
Occupy This Album Disc 4
*Indicates previously unreleased track
1. We Can’t Make It Here, James McMurtry with Joan Baez & Steve Earle*
2. We Are, New Party Systems (feat. Kyp Malone)*
3. Revolution, The Nova Echo*
4. Number One, Born I Music
5. Play The Greed, Dar Williams
6. Broke Heart Blues, Ronny Elliot*
7. What Are Their Names, (Live) David Crosby & Graham Nash*
8. Make A Stand, Dylan Chambers with Lester Chambers*
9. Better Luck Next Time, Jenny Arnau*
10. All Over The World, Arlo Guthrie & Family*
11. We’re The 99, Lauren Diamond (feat. Liz O’Donnell)*
12. We Are Human, Mike + Ruthy*
13. Blessed, Lucinda Williams
14. Freedom Of Speech, Kanaska Carter*
15. Reclaim, Rejectionist Front
16. Occupy (We the 99), Jasiri X
17. Earth Division, Mogwai*
18. Occupy Wall Street Drummers “Pulse” Spoken Word By Paul Spitz*
19. Hidden Bonus Track*
Occupy This Album Digital Only
*Indicates previously unreleased track
1. Chasing The Sun, Andrew Vladeck
2. Livin’ Like a Joker, Greg Smith and The Broken English
3. Rise, Aliza Hava
4. Crashed IT, Stashed IT, The Occubilly Bros.*
5. Invisible People, Chris Pierce
6. Ukulele Anthem, Amanda Palmer*
7. Tree of Life, Nadirah Shakoor
8. On My Wall, Hanne Hukkelberg
9. Little Pieces of Plastic, Jason White
10. Never Be Defeated, mfmadness
11. Greedy Life, Renegade Creation*
12. 99%, Jesse Lenat
13. On The Dole, The Swedes
14. Brazilia, Bill Mlotok*
15. Don’t Taser Me, Bro!, Marcus Blake
16. We Are The 99, Angels of Vice
17. Silence, The Layaways
18. Mother Feather, Mother Feather*
19. Common Man, Thorin Caristo*
20. Everyday, Machan
21. Crashing Down, Vannucci featuring Robert Brentley*
22. Time To Occupy, David Amram*
2nd Annual KPFK Hero Awards and Tribute: A Musical Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron
March 29, 2012
North Hollywood – KPFK 90.7 announces its honorees for the 2nd Annual Hero Awards and Tribute. The Hero Awards is a benefit series for the Los Angeles-based Pacifica Radio station.
Making Moves for Heroes: KPFK Moves the 2nd Annual Hero Awards to Club Nokia!
North Hollywood – KPFK 90.7 announces its honorees for the 2nd Annual Hero Awards and Tribute. The Hero Awards is a benefit series for the Los Angeles-based Pacifica Radio station. The event honors icons of our time who have left an impact on music and community. This year’s honoree is musician and political poet Gil Scott-Heron, with special awards to Jazz bassist and activist Charlie Haden, music educator Fernando Pullum; and a Lifetime Achievement Award to Pete Seeger, American folk singer and activist. The 2nd Annual KPFK Hero Awards and Tribute will take place Sunday, May 6th, 2012 at Club Nokia, 800 West Olympic Blvd, 3rd floor at the fabulous L.A. Live. The event starts with a VIP reception and silent auction from 5 pm to 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm. The line-up will feature a host of prolific and poetic artists. The invited list of performers and guest speakers include Ben Harper, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Jill Scott, Tim Robbins, Ledisi, Nas, Nailah Porter, Mos Def, Saul Williams, Ravi Coltrane and Flying Lotus. Brian Jackson, long-time collaborator with Gil Scott-Heron, will be on hand as Music Director.
The KPFK Hero Awards and Tribute launched in 2010 honoring Jazz legend Billy Higgins. The idea for the series was the result of a heartfelt on-air conversation between KPFK Music Director Maggie LePique and musician Charles Lloyd about Billy Higgins, during which LePique thought it would be relevant for KPFK 90.7 to mark the upcoming 10th anniversary of Higgins’ death by celebrating his life and body of work. She enlisted Kasey Lovelace, Music Consultant and friend of the Higgins family to develop the idea into a full-scale event. Catalina Popescu, owner of Catalina Bar and Grill, honored her long friendship with LePique and Higgins by donating her world-renowned venue for the tribute by Higgins’ esteemed contemporaries Stanley Clarke, Charles Lloyd, George Duke, Kenny Burrell, with Music Director John Beasley, among others who performed to a “standing room only” audience. The demand from both the music and public affairs community has prompted the station to continue this event as an annual award series.
KPFK 90.7 FM is a member station of the Pacifica Radio network and the Pacifica Foundation, which consists of five radio stations, over 100 affiliate stations, and the Pacifica Radio Archives, responsible for preserving the voices of artists, activists and progressive journalists since 1949, when the foundation was established by peace activist Lewis Hill. To further peace through broadcasting activities, Hill determined that radio sponsored by individual listeners would be the best way to ensure editorial freedom. The KPFK Hero Awards and Tribute is a means to both raise funds and advance the Pacifica Mission.
Post-Fund Drive Ticket Special
Post Drive Special Pair of VIP Tickets – $300
Includes VIP reception, Gil Scott-Heron book, gift bag,
meet and greet and free parking (Regular price $200.00 each)
Single Preferred Ticket $100
General Admission Ticket $75
All ticket sales benefit the forwarding of the Hero Awards and Tribute
as an annual fundraiser for KPFK 90.7 FM
For updates on the 2nd Annual Hero Awards and Tribute log onto
Follow us on Twitter: @KPFKHero
For general information contact
KPFK 90.7 Radio at (818) 985-2711 ext. 361
Email: [email protected]
“Like” us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KPFK90.7
Lives in the Balance – Video
March 28, 2012
Video of Jackson Browne’s song, an animated editorial by Andrew Thomas.
Chimes of Freedom 75 Newly Recorded Bob Dylan Songs by Over 80 Artists Scheduled for January 24 Release
November 24, 2011
Salutes Amnesty Internationals 50th Anniversary and Life-Saving Human Rights Work
The Collection Features Songs By
* Adele * The Airborne Toxic Event * Joan Baez * Natasha Bedingfield * Jackson Browne * Cage the Elephant * Elvis Costello * Darren Criss * Miley Cyrus * Dave Matthews Band * K’NAAN * Ke$ha * Mark Knopfler * Diana Krall * Lenny Kravitz * Kris Kristofferson * Ziggy Marley * Maroon 5 * Tom Morello * My Chemical Romance * Joe Perry * Queens Of The Stone Age * Raphael Saadiq * Seal & Jeff Beck * Silversun Pickups * Patti Smith * Sting * Sugarland * Pete Townshend * Lucinda Williams * Evan Rachel Wood
Two iconic forces that have impacted the past 50 years – the life-saving human rights activism of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Amnesty International and the incomparable artistry of Bob Dylan – are being saluted by 80 musicians who contributed new or previously unreleased recordings to Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.
Chimes of Freedom is Executive Produced by legendary music executive Jeff Ayeroff and Julie Yannatta, who spearheaded Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur – a 2007 collection of John Lennon solo compositions performed by major artists including U2, Green Day, and R.E.M.
The collection is scheduled for physical (4 discs) and digital release in North America on January 24, 2012 through Fontana Distribution. It will be distributed internationally through Fontana International, a Universal Music company, on January 30.
Chimes of Freedom features a stellar and diverse group of artists across the generational and musical spectrum. The performers, including many of Amnesty International’s longtime supporters, range in age from teenage pop star Miley Cyrus, 19, to folk music legend Pete Seeger, who, at 92, records Dylan’s poignant “Forever Young,” with a children’s chorus
The diversity of the musicians and musical genres – from rock, rap, hip-hop to pop, folk, country, jazz and blues — attests to Amnesty’s depth of support in the music community, the universal appeal of the core message of human rights, and the breadth of Dylan’s impact on culture. Almost every track on the album is being released for sale for the first time* – except for the title song, Dylan’s original 1964 recording of “Chimes of Freedom.” Seventy songs were recorded especially for this release – with the addition of a few previously unreleased recordings.
“This album is a powerful fusion of the music community’s respect for Amnesty’s life-affirming work and for Bob Dylan’s enduring brilliance,” said Ayeroff and Yannatta. “We are proud to have worked with Amnesty to produce this remarkable project.”
In 1962, Amnesty International evolved from a one-year campaign to free political prisoners into a worldwide movement fighting for justice, freedom and human dignity; today the organization has more than three million supporters in 150 countries. In March of that same year Bob Dylan’s debut album was released, launching an unparalleled recording career.
“Over the half century, Dylan’s art has explored and expressed the anguish and hope of the modern human condition,” observed Sean Wilentz, the noted historian, in the album liner notes.
“Bob Dylan’s music endures because he so brilliantly captures our heartbreak, our joy, our frailty, our confusion, our courage and our struggles,” said Karen Scott Amnesty International’s Manager of Music Relations. “His words convey a depth of meaning that few artists can equal, inspiring us and always moving ahead of our expectations. We at Amnesty International are deeply grateful to this legendary musician and to all of the artists who have contributed to this project.”
All of the artists, session musicians, arrangers, engineers, producers and recording studios worked pro-bono to support the human rights cause. Almost 30 tracks on the album were mixed gratis by famed engineer Bob Clearmountain. Bob Ludwig and Adam Ayan of Gateway Mastering donated their mastering services. The album cover illustration is by Grammy Award winning artist Mick Haggerty. Eight tracks were produced or executive produced by Martin Lewis, who as co-creator/producer in the 1970s of Amnesty’s ongoing “Secret Policeman’s Ball” benefit series, instigated Amnesty’s outreach to rock musicians by recruiting and producing Pete Townshend, Sting, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Bob Geldof and others. Executive Producers for Amnesty International are Helen Garrett, director of special projects, and Karen Scott, manager of music relations.
Through Chimes of Freedom, Amnesty International seeks to enlist support for its fight against censorship and attacks on free speech – whether involving artists, writers, musicians, political activists or bloggers. In this campaign, Amnesty is fighting for people such as the imprisoned Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in China, a scholar and human rights defender imprisoned since 2009 for writing about corruption and criticizing China’s political system. In addition to purchasing the album at www.amnestyusa.org/chimes, supporters will find actions they can take to help individuals whose freedom of expression is under threat.
The tracklisting for Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International is as follows:
DISC 1
Raphael Saadiq – Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Patti Smith – Drifter’s Escape
Rise Against – Ballad of Hollis Brown
Tom Morello The Nightwatchman – Blind Willie McTell
Pete Townshend – Corrina, Corrina
Bettye LaVette – Most of the Time
Charlie Winston – This Wheel’s On Fire
Diana Krall – Simple Twist of Fate
Brett Dennen – You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere
Mariachi El Bronx – Love Sick
Ziggy Marley – Blowin’ in the Wind
The Gaslight Anthem – Changing of the Guards
Silversun Pickups – Not Dark Yet
My Morning Jacket – You’re A Big Girl Now
The Airborne Toxic Event – Boots of Spanish Leather
Sting – Girl from the North Country
Mark Knopfler – Restless Farewell
DISC 2
Queens Of The Stone Age – Outlaw Blues
Lenny Kravitz – Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35
Steve Earle & Lucia Micarelli – One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)
Blake Mills – Heart Of Mine
Miley Cyrus – You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Billy Bragg – Lay Down Your Weary Tune
Elvis Costello – License to Kill
Angelique Kidjo – Lay, Lady, Lay
Natasha Bedingfield – Ring Them Bells
Jackson Browne – Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Joan Baez – Seven Curses (Live)
The Belle Brigade – No Time To Think
Sugarland – Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You (Live)
Jack’s Mannequin – Mr. Tambourine Man
Oren Lavie – 4th Time Around
Sussan Deyhim – All I Really Want To Do
Adele – Make You Feel My Love (Recorded Live at WXPN)
DISC 3
K’NAAN – With God On Our Side
Ximena Sariana – I Want You
Neil Finn with Pajama Club – She Belongs to Me
Bryan Ferry – Bob Dylan’s Dream
Zee Avi – Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Carly Simon – Just Like a Woman
Flogging Molly – The Times They Are A-Changin’
Fistful Of Mercy – Buckets Of Rain
Joe Perry – Man Of Peace
Bad Religion – It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
My Chemical Romance – Desolation Row (Live)
RedOne featuring Nabil Khayat – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Paul Rodgers & Nils Lofgren – Abandoned Love
Darren Criss featuring Chuck Criss and Freelance Whales – New Morning
Cage the Elephant – The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
Band of Skulls – It Ain’t Me, Babe
Sinad O’Connor – Property of Jesus
Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project – Shelter From The Storm
Ke$ha – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Kronos Quartet – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
DISC 4
Maroon 5 – I Shall Be Released
Carolina Chocolate Drops – Political World
Seal & Jeff Beck – Like A Rolling Stone
Taj Mahal – Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream
Dierks Bentley – Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (Live)
Mick Hucknall – One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
Thea Gilmore – I’ll Remember You
State Radio – John Brown
Dave Matthews Band – All Along the Watchtower (Live)
Michael Franti – Subterranean Homesick Blues
We Are Augustines – Mama, You Been On My Mind
Lucinda Williams – Tryin’ To Get To Heaven
Kris Kristofferson – Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
Eric Burdon – Gotta Serve Somebody
Evan Rachel Wood – I’d Have You Anytime
Marianne Faithfull – Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Live)
Pete Seeger – Forever Young
Bob Dylan – Chimes Of Freedom
DIGITAL ONLY
Outernational – When The Ship Comes In
Silverstein – Song To Woody
Daniel Bedingfield – Man In The Long Black Coat
For More Information: Digital contact:
Bobbie Gale/Big Hassle Media Cory Llewellyn/Transmission
323-456-3490 310 295 0187
[email protected] [email protected]
For Amnesty International:
Contact: Suzanne Trimel,
212-633-4150, 917-815-5964
[email protected]
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than three million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. For more information, please visit: www.amnestyusa.org
Link to Article Chimes of Freedom 75 Newly Recorded Bob Dylan Songs by Over 80 Artists Scheduled for January 24 Release