Tomorrow marks the release for Santana’s album ‘Guitar Heaven’… Gavin Rossdale is a featured artist and had collaborated on the track ‘Bang-a-Gong’ which was originally done by T-Rex.
From Soundspike.com:
New Releases, Sept. 21: Santana, Zac Brown Band, John Legend & the Roots, Michael Franti & Spearhead, more
Clive Davis loves a good concept. His latest assignment for Carlos Santana is partnering the guitarist with other stars to interpret classics from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.
“Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time” is Santana’s first studio album in five years, and features singers such as Rob Thomas, Chris Daughtry and Gavin Rossdale. The material includes Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” the Doors’ “Riders on the Storm,” and the Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’.”
The track that should garner the most attention, though, is his version of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” featuring singer India.Arie and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Santana’s band for the album includes Dennis Chambers (drums), Benny Rietveld (bass), Karl Perrazo (timbales), Tommy Anthony (rhythm guitar), Freddie Ravel (keyboards), Andy Vargas (background vocals), and Raul Rekow (Congas). Bill Ortiz (trumpet) and Jeff Cressman (trombone) also appear on the record.
Zac Brown Band, “You Get What You Give ” (Atlantic/Southern Ground Artists)
The album’s first single, “As She’s Walking Away,” features Alan Jackson. Just as Brown and the band were preparing to release the new disc, they received four CMA awards nominations: Entertainer, New Artist and Vocal Group of the Year, plus Musical Event of the Year for “Can’t You See” with Kid Rock. They became the first artists since 1982 to be nominated for both Best New Artist and Entertainer of the Year.
John Legend & the Roots, “Wake Up” (Columbia)
John Legend & the Roots join forces on an album of soul music of the ’60s and ’70s. Highlights include Donny Hathaway’s “Little Ghetto Boy,” Baby Huey & the Babysitters’ “Hard Times,” and one original, Legend’s “Shine.”
Michael Franti & Spearhead, “The Sound of Sunshine” (Capitol Records/Boo Boo Wax)
“The Sound of Sunshine,” the title track of Michael Franti & Spearhead’s seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2008’s Top 40 hit “All Rebel Rockers,” has already hit No. 1 at AAA radio. Franti and band just started a new tour. “To play music that makes people feel energized and passionate about life in these stressful times is a privilege that I’m grateful to have,” Franti said when announcing the tour. “We’ve been doing a lot of acoustic street performances these days outside the venues we’ve been playing in, and I look forward to seeing longtime fans again and meeting new ones in every city we play in.”
Todd Rundgren, “For Lack of Honest Work” (Micro Werks)
The first authorized bootleg from Todd Rundgren, this three CD set includes performances recorded in the U.S., Europe and Asia over the last four decades. The album is divided stylistically: Disc one is songs for romantic recovery; disc two brings together soul, prog and glam rock; disc three is more recent material.
Thievery Corporation,” It Takes a Thief” (ESL Music)
The first “best of” album from the DJ duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton includes tracks pulled from their five albums released over the last 12 years. “We’ve always been a little hesitant of putting together a retrospective CD,” Garza says in the band’s press materials. “But looking back and realizing it’s been almost 15 years since we started, we figured maybe now is the time. These tracks are some of our favorite moments.” The band is recording an album of new material to be released in 2011.
Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, “At Edwards Barn” (Rounder Records)
This live album from Byrds co-founder Chris Hillman and guitarist-banjoist Herb Pederson features songs from various points in their careers, including such classics as “Eight Miles High,” “Wait a Minute,” and the timeless “Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season).” The concert was recorded on Nov. 7, 2009 in the intimate setting of Southern California’s Edwards Barn — a venue chosen for its outstanding acoustics.
Other albums of note:
Billy Currington, “Enjoy Yourself” (Mercury Nashville)
Lucero, “Indespensible” (Universal Latino)
Maroon 5, “Hands All Over” (A&M/Octone)
Johnny Mathis, “Let it Be Me: Mathis in Nashville” (Columbia)
Liza Minnelli, “Confessions” (Decca)
Serj Tankian, “Imperfect Harmonies” (Reprise)