Release Day Picks: May 20th New Releases

Each week Release Day Picks profiles new LPs and EPs Team JamBase will be checking out on release day Friday. This week we highlight new albums by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Mudcrutch, Ana Popović and a various artists compilation tribute to the Grateful Dead. Read on for more insight into the records we have all queued up to spin.

Bob Dylan – Fallen Angels

The Scoop: Fallens Angels continues Bob Dylan’s stroll down memory lane that he began with 2015’s Shadows In The Night, a set of mid-century American classics best known for their renderings by Frank Sinatra. Fallen Angels is his second batch of covers comprised of mostly songs from the 1940s and 1950s – again most of which were Sinatra Great American Songbook standards. Both albums were recorded during 2014 sessions at Columbia’s Studio B (where Sinatra often recorded) with a crack shot big band backing Dylan’s interpretations. Fallen Angels doesn’t stray much from Shadows In The Night, but interestingly Fallen Angels is getting a notably warmer critical reception, particularly for the phrasing and quality of the vocals. Have a listen to “Melancholy Mood” on “vinyl video” from Fallen Angels below:

Label: Columbia Records

Producer: Jack Frost (Bob Dylan)

Number Of Tracks: 12

Running Time: 37:50

Musicians: Daniel Fornero (trumpet), Tony Garnier (upright bass), Larry G. Hall (trumpet), Dylan Hart (French horn), Donnie Herron (pedal steel guitar), Alan Kaplan (trombone), Stu Kimball (guitar), Andrew Martin (trombone), Joseph Meyer (French horn), George Receli (percussion), Charlie Sexton (guitar), and Francisco Torres (trombone)

Tracklist:

1. Young at Heart
2. Maybe You’ll Be There
3. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
4. All The Way
5. Skylark
6. Nevertheless
7. All Or Nothing At All
8. Oh A Little Street in Singapore
9. It Had To Be You
10. Melancholy Mood
11. That Old Black Magic
12. Come Rain or Come Shine

Stream / Download / CD, Vinyl, and Digital

Eric Clapton – I Still Do

The Scoop: Veteran rocker Eric Clapton issues his 23rd solo studio album today which was produced by Glyn Johns. The 12-track effort features a mix of songs written by Clapton as well as classics and contemporary tunes penned by others including the album-closing “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Johns famously produced one of Eric’s most successful solo efforts, Slowhand, back in 1977 and hadn’t collaborated with Clapton since 1978’s Backless. One of the more intriguing aspects of the LP is contributions from a musician credited as “Angelo Mysterioso.” While the late former member of The Beatles George Harrison used a similar pseudonym, Clapton has stated it isn’t George who appears on I Still Do and a spokesman issued a statement saying “We aren’t going to be saying who it is. Now or ever.” Watch the video “Spiral,” one of the songs Eric wrote for the album:

Label: Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records

Producer: Glyn Johns

Number Of Tracks: 12

Running Time: 54:07

Guest Musicians: Henry Spinetti, Dave Bronze, Andy Fairweather Low, Paul Carrack, Chris Stainton, Simon Climie, Dirk Powell, Walt Richmond, Ethan Johns, Michelle John, Sharon White, Angelo Mysterioso

Tracklist:

1. Alabama Woman Blues
2. Can’t Let You Do It
3. I Will Be There
4. Spiral
5. Catch The Blues
6. Cypress Grove
7. Little Man, You’ve Had A Busy Day
8. Stones In My Passway
9. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
10. I’ll Be Alright
11. Somebody’s Knockin
12. I’ll Be Seeing You

Download / CD/LP

Mudcrutch – 2

The Scoop: Originally formed in Gainesville, Florida in 1970, Mudcrutch features Tom Petty on bass, Tom Leadon on guitar, Benmont Tench on keyboards, Mike Campbell and Randall Marsh on drums. The group only released one single before disbanding in 1975 as Petty, Campbell and Tench went on to form Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. In 2008 Mudcrutch reunited and issued their long overdue self-titled debut full length album and now, some eight years later the quintet has re-reunited for their long awaited sophomore album. Petty wrote seven of the new songs on the album and each of the other four members penned a new original a piece. Here’s the Petty-composed single “Hungry No More”:

Label: Reprise Records

Producer: Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Ryan Ulyate

Number Of Tracks: 11

Running Time: 43:10

Musicians: Tom Petty, Tom Leadon, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Randall Marsh

Tracklist:

1. Trailer
2. Dreams of Flying
3. Beautiful Blue
4. Beautiful World
5. I Forgive It All
6. The Other Side Of The Mountain
7. Hope
8. Welcome To Hell
9. Save Your Water
10. Victim of Circumstance
11. Hungry No More

Stream / Download / CD/LP

Ana Popovic – Trilogy

The Scoop: Belgrade-born axe slinger Ana Popovic fuses blues, jazz and funk over the course of 23 tracks on her ambitious new triple-album which is fittingly named Trilogy. Produced by Warren Riker, Tom Hambridge and Delfeayo Marsalis, the record includes contributions from many guest artists. Among those appearing on Trilogy are Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars’ Cody Dickinson, Bernard Purdie and rapper Al Capone. Popovic won herself many new fans as the lone female guitarist on the recent Experience Hendrix tour and shows off her songwriting prowess on the new LP. Watch the official video for “You Got The Love”:

Label: Artistexclusive Records

Producer: Warren Riker, Tom Hambridge, Delfeayo Marsalis

Number Of Tracks: 23

Guest Musicians: Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph, Bernard Purdie, Cody Dickinson, Al Capone

Tracklist:

1. Love You Tonight
2. Show You How Strong You Are
3. Fencewalk
4. Train
5. If Tomorrow Was Today
6. Long Road Down
7. Hook Me Up
8. Too Late
9. You Got The Love
10. Johnnie Ray
11. Woman To Love
12. Let’s Do It Again
13. Who’s Yo’ Mama
14. Wasted
15. Crying For Me
16. New Coat Of Paint
17. Waiting On You
18. In A Sentimental Mood
19. Old Country
20. Waiting On You (Double-Time Swing)
21. Heaven’s Crying
22. You Don’t Know What Love Is

Stream / Download / CD/LP

---

Various Artists – Day Of The Dead

The Scoop: Bill Graham famously proclaimed the Grateful Dead were “Not the best at what they do. They’re the only ones that do what they do.” The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner are out to prove that statement true with their long-in-the-making lovingly curated 59-track tribute album, Day Of The Dead. Packing in a whooping five and half hours of music the compilation loosely plays out like an epic three-night run with the Dead. Every era of the band’s 30-year run is represented: primordial psychedelic rock, their back-to-basics folk and country period, the loose exploratory mid-70s era, all the way up to their ‘TouchHead’ 1980s output. Even more impressive than the track listing itself are the eclectic set of musicians The Dessner’s recruited to tackle tunes from the band’s diverse catalog, which reads like a who’s who of indie-rock and Americana, with a few curve balls thrown in for good measure. Thanks to their rousing 50th anniversary celebration and the Dessner’s work here, we are once again are in the midst of another golden era to be a fan of the good ol’ Grateful Dead.

Label: 4AD

Producer: Aaron Dessner (Co-Produced by Bryce Dessner and Josh Kaufman)

Number Of Tracks: 59

Running Time: 5:27:40

Guest Musicians: Aaron Dessner, Angel Olsen, Anohni, Béla Fleck, Bill Callahan, Binki Shapiro, Bob Weir, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Devendorf, Bryce Dessner, Brad Cook, Caroline Shaw, Cass McCombs, Charles Bradley, Christopher Bear, Conrad Doucette, Courtney Barnett, Daniel Rosen, DeYarmond Edison, Ed Droste, Fucked Up, Garth Hudson, Hiss Golden Messenger, Ira Kaplan, J Mascis, Jenny Lewis, Jim James, Joe Russo, Josh Kaufman, Kodiak Blue, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Lee Ranaldo, Lisa Hannigan, Little Scream, Local Natives, Lucinda Williams, Lucius, Luluc, Man Forever, Marijuana Death Squads, Menahan Street Band, Mina Tindle, Moses Sumney, Mumford and Sons, Nightfall of Diamonds, Oneida, Orchestra Baobab, Perfume Genius, Phosphorescent, Real Estate, Richard Reed Parry, s t a r g a z e, Sam Amidon, Sam Cohen, Scott Devendorf, Sharon Van Etten, Shura, Sō Percussion, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Tal National, The Flaming Lips, The Lone Bellow, The National, The Rileys, The Tallest Man On Earth, The Walkmen, The War on Drugs, This Is The Kit, Tim Hecker, Tunde Adebimpe, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Vijay Iyer, Walter Martin, Wilco, Winston Marshall, Xylouris White, yMusic

Tracklist:

1. Touch of Grey by The War on Drugs
2. Sugaree by Phosphorescent, Jenny Lewis & Friends
3. Candyman by Jim James & Friends
4. Cassidy by Moses Sumney, Jenny Lewis & Friends
5. Black Muddy River by Bruce Hornsby & DeYarmond Edison
6. Loser by Ed Droste, Binki Shapiro & Friends
7. Peggy-O by The National
8. Box of Rain by Kurt Vile and the Violators (featuring J Mascis)
9. Rubin & Cherise by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Friends
10. To Lay Me Down by Perfume Genius, Sharon Van Etten & Friends
11. New Speedway Boogie by Courtney Barnett
12. Friend of the Devil by Mumford and Sons
13. Uncle John’s Band by Lucius
14. Me and My Uncle by The Lone Bellow & Friends
15. Mountains of the Moon by Lee Ranaldo, Lisa Hannigan & Friends
16. Black Peter by Anohni and yMusic
17. Garcia Counterpoint by Bryce Dessner
18. Terrapin Station (Suite) by Daniel Rossen, Christopher Bear & The National (featuring Josh Kaufman, Conrad Doucette, Sō Percussion & Brooklyn Youth Chorus)
19. Attics of My Life by Angel Olsen
20. St. Stephen by Wilco with Bob Weir (live)
21. If I Had the World to Give by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
22. Standing on the Moon by Phosphorescent & Friends
23. Cumberland Blues by Charles Bradley and Menahan Street Band
24. Ship of Fools by The Tallest Man On Earth & Friends
25. Bird Song by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Friends
26. Morning Dew by The National
27. Truckin’ by Marijuana Death Squads
28. Dark Star by Cass McCombs, Joe Russo & Friends
29. Nightfall of Diamonds by Nightfall of Diamonds
30. Transitive Refraction Axis for John Oswald by Tim Hecker
31. Going Down The Road Feeling Bad by Lucinda Williams & Friends
32. Playing in the Band by Tunde Adebimpe, Lee Ranaldo & Friends
33. Stella Blue by Local Natives
34. Eyes of the World by Tal National
35. Help On The Way by Béla Fleck
36. Franklin’s Tower by Orchestra Baobab
37. Til the Morning Comes by Luluc with Xylouris White
38. Ripple by The Walkmen
39. Brokedown Palace by Richard Reed Parry with Caroline Shaw and Little Scream (featuring Garth Hudson)
40. Here Comes Sunshine by Real Estate
41. Shakedown Street by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
42. Brown-Eyed Women by Hiss Golden Messenger
43. Jack-A-Roe by This Is The Kit
44. High Time by Daniel Rosen and Christopher Bear
45. Dire Wolf by The Lone Bellow & Friends
46. Althea by Winston Marshall, Kodiak Blue and Shura
47. Clementine Jam by Orchestra Baobab
48. China Cat Sunflower · I Know You Rider by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
49. Easy Wind by Bill Callahan
50. Wharf Rat by Ira Kaplan & Friends
51. Estimated Prophet by The Rileys
52. Drums · Space by Man Forever / Sō Percussion / Onieda
53. Cream Puff War by Fucked Up
54. Dark Star by The Flaming Lips
55. What’s Become of the Baby by s t a r g a z e
56. King Solomon’s Marbles by Vijay Iyer
57. Rosemary by Mina Tindle & Friends
58. And We Bid You Goodnight by Sam Amidon
59. I Know You Rider by The National with Bob Weir (live)

Stream / Download / CD/LP

---

Compiled by Ryan Dembinsky, Jeffrey Greenblatt, Andy Kahn and Scott Bernstein