Madonna’s well oiled publicity machine goes into action again, as a demo of her new single Give Me All Your Love was leaked onto the internet on November 8th.  Unfortunately we are unable to show it here as it’s now been blocked but we thought we’d treat you do an old classic instead.

The single is expected to be the debut track from Madonna’s upcoming album, which will be her first since 2008’s “Hard Candy,” and her first studio release since leaving Warner Bros to join Live Nation. The full version of the track is rumoured to feature MIA and Nicki Minaj.

Madonna has already confirmed that she will release the album in spring 2012, with Give Me All Your Love expected to be available from February or March. Long-term collaborator William Orbit, who produced her 1998 album ‘Ray Of Light’, will work with her on the record.
The pop icon has also written a ballad for her new movie ‘W.E.’ which is also due to air in Britain early 2012.

The film which has been co-written and directed by Madonna, follows the life of Wallis Simpson (played by Andrea Riseborough) with a parallel storyline involving a lonely New Yorker, Wally Winthrop (played by Abbie Cornish), who is obsessed with what she perceives as the greatest royal love story of all time.

The screenplay for W.E. was co-written by Alek Keshishian who had previously worked with Madonna on her 1991 documentary ‘Truth or Dare’, which you might remember by its slightly more iconic name ‘In Bed With Madonna’. The movie also stars Oscar Isaac, Richard Coyle, James D’Arcy and James Fox and Laurence Fox.

Meanwhile, back in Tinsel Town, Madge is rumoured to be offering fellow Kabbalah follower Demi Moore spiritual advice and a shoulder to cry on after the actress announced she will be divorcing toy boy husband Ashton Kutcher after his alleged infidelity.

Both ladies are renowned for their youthful appearances and bodies that would put most younger women to shame but where Madge has achieved her’s through punishing exercise regimes, Demi was very honest in crediting the part surgery and liposuction played in sculpting the perfect body she displayed in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle back in 2003. Of course, I don’t think liposuction prices would have been a deterrent for multi-millionaire Madge and fragile looking Demi’s recent weight loss is sadly down to the very public break-down of her marriage.

Amy Winehouse was just 27-years-old when she was found dead at her home in Camden, north London, last Saturday.  The cause of death will not be known for up to four weeks as police await  toxicology tests, following a post-mortem examination carried out yesterday proved inconclusive.

Anyone who has seen videos of her last concert in Serbia last month has witnessed what a state Amy was in.  A stumbling performance that looks to be caused by a cocktail of alcohol and drugs.

Here is Amy Winehouse at her finest performing a live rendition of ‘Rehab’ on Jools Holland’s Later BBCtv show and singing ‘Valerie’ with Mark Ronson for the BBC Live Sessions concert.

Amy Winehouse R.I.P.

“Hurrah! were like a perfect punk rock fantasy Byrds… what we all wished we were. Great songs, great shows, supreme überpunk attitude… we just loved them.” – Alan McGee, 2011

With an appearance somewhere between early pre-mop top Beatles and part Byrds circa 1965, Hurrah!’s early singles helped pave the way for many 1980’s jangly guitar indie popsters.

Originally released in 1993 on Creation Records, The Sound Of Philadelphia features those first few influential singles and demos leading up to Hurrah!’s mid-1980’s breakthrough and will be re-issued in July 2011.

Comtemporary bands such as Crystal Stilts, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The See See and The Tambourines are all gaining acclaim for a sound that owes so much to Hurrah!

[Sorry for the quality of this promo video for Hurrah!’s debut single, The Sun Shines Here.  Can anyone post a better version on YouTube?]

The Marine Girls was formed in 1980 with further members Jane Fox on bass and her sister Alice on joint vocals and percussion. In 1981, Tracey went to Hull University where she met Ben Watt and formed Everything But The Girl.

Their debut single, On My Mind, was covered by Everything But The Girl on the b-side of their first single, Night And Day.  While their debut album, Beach Party was listed as one of Kurt Cobain’s 50 favourite albums in his diaries. A second album, Lazy Ways was released in 1983.  Both albums were re-issued as a double CD on Cooking Vinyl in 1997.

The Marine Girls also recorded two John Peel Sessions. The first included five songs: Don’t Come Back, Love To Know, He Got The Girl, Fever and A Place In The Sun.

A Place In The Sun was never released as a single.

Xray specs – Gerrmfree Adolescence on Top Of The Pops from 1978.

Poly Styrene R.I.P

Here they are performing the top track What A Waster at Reading/Leeds festival in 2010.

You have to just love these guys!

The Libertines – What A Waster

Its use on the soundtrack of the movie Thelma & Louise only served to increase the songs cult status. Here is Marianne appearing on Top Of The Pops in 1979.

Marianne Faithfull – The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan

Jeff Beck - Rock 'n' Roll Party

By now everyone must have heard about the upcoming release from one guitar legend in the shape of Jeff Beck, paying homage to another, Les Paul.

The Celebration of Les Paul show was recorded in New York in June 2010 celebrating what would have been the pioneering guitarist’s 95th birthday by playing his friend and mentor’s music, along with classic tunes from the era, in the same Times Square nightclub that Paul played every Monday for 14 years before his death in August 2009.

Sponsored by Gibson Guitar, Beck was joined on stage by The Imelda May Band at the Iridium Jazz Club with other guest performers joining Beck onstage included Brian Setzer, Gary “U.S.” Bonds, and Trombone Shorty.

“Les was my inspiration,” says Beck. “For years I had always wanted to do something for Les to show him how much I respected and admired what he had done. Les used to play every week at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, so for me it was the obvious and fitting place for a ‘Salute’ to him.”

ATCO via Rhino Records UK will be offering a CD of this exclusive show, featuring 20 live tracks from the evening, on February 21^st entitled Rock & Roll Party.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will offer the Blu-Ray and DVD of this special one off show also on February 21st. They will include seven extra live performances as well as bonus footage and interviews.

Following these releases, Beck will take the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Party” on the road for a short U.S. tour. Beck will once again be backed by The Imelda May Band and its enchanting singer Imelda May, who joined Beck on stage at the 2010 Grammy Awards for a spot-on rendition of Paul’s “How High The Moon.”

Ahead of the official release on CD and DVD here is a clip in which Jeff Beck talks about the influence of Les Paul, along with clips from the show.

Jeff Beck – Rock n Roll Party Honouring Les Paul (Trailer)

The Primitives release the 4-track Never Kill A Secret EP in March, their first new recordings since they split up in 1992.

They emerged along bands like My Bloody Valentine & Primal Scream, following the noisy buzz-guitar indie pop of The Jesus & Marychain in the mid-1980s and are best known for their most commercially successful single, Crash.  Though like The Jesus & Marychain, they dropped the noise of their first two singles, Really Stupid & Stop Killing Me before receiving commercial success.

A further two hit singles followed Crash in 1988 (Out Of Reach and Way Behind Me) and two more in 1989 (Sick Of It and Secrets).   But by now The Primitives and their brand of sweet indie guitar pop music had been replaced by the grunge of Nirvana and the indie dance of The Stone Roses.

After three albums, Lovely, Pure and Galore, The Primitives decided to split up in 1992. Last year they reformed and this March they release their new EP and will be touring the UK.

The Primitives 2011 UK Tour Dates:

Wed 16 March
Joiners Arms, Southampton

Thu 17 March
Haymakers, Cambridge

Fri 18 March
Start the Bus, Bristol

Sat 19 March
Fibbers, York

Sun 20 March
The Arches, Glasgow

Mon 21 March
Moho, Manchester

Wed 23 March
Academy, Birmingham

Thu 24 March
Garage, London

Rafferty had spent a long time battling a drink problem and had been receiving treatment in a Bournemouth hospital, he died peacefully at home however, with his daughter Martha at his bedside on January 4th 2011, from liver failure.

The singer had started his career alongside comedian Billy Connolly in an act known as The Humblebums, he quit in 1970 and two years later formed Stealers Wheel with Joe Egan, producing the classic single Stuck In The Middle With You which would endear the singer to a new generation when it was used in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs soundtrack in 1992.

In 1978 Rafferty released his best known solo album City to City which included the song Baker Street. That track alone would earn the singer a reputed £80,000 per year in royalties, but money was never his motivation.

His subsequent albums while generating some interest, failed to capture the success of City to City and Rafferty is said to have become more and more reclusive.

Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street