Pause & Play (the music site)

Hi,

I am a huge Donna Summer fan and wondered if you have heard any rumors of her releasing a new full-length CD? I've heard rumors of duets with Diana Ross, signing with Burgundy Records, and working with some French producer. But nothing official. Any thoughts??

Also, CD Universe is listing Donna Summer for several reissues releases in July. The first is Gold (Gold Pressing) for July 25, 2006 and the other is Lady of the Night for July 18, 2006. Any truth to these? No detail is listed.

"Gold (Gold Pressing)"

"Lady of the Night"

Let me know.....BTW---LOVE YOUR WEBSITE!!!! I check it a million times a day!! Thanks!

Frank B
Chicago

A million times a day? Wow, that's more than I check it. :-)

Thank you for the very kind words.

As for the rest of your e-mail ...

I'm a big fan, too.

Donna Summer was in our neck of the woods in May for a concert and she made no mention in our local newspaper about working on a new album. At the time, she was recovering from a knee injury.

Summer and Ross on one album? It would be a major coup, but I highly doubt that rumor. Summer doesn't strike me as a diva, but Ross sure does, and I can't see Ross wanting to share the limelight with anyone.

It would be interesting to ask Summer what kind of experience she had doing "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with the ultimate diva, Barbra Streisand, in 1979.

Those titles at CD Universe are available at Amazon, but only in their original form. "Gold" was issued last year, and "Lady of the Night" (a rather unfortunate title, isn't it?) - originally released in 1974 - debuted on CD in 2001.

# posted by Gerry Galipault/Pause & Play @ 2:22 PM 0 comments

According to americanidol.com, Clay Aiken is, indeed, back in the game on Sept. 19. Here are other release dates for new, still-untitled albums coming from past "Idol" winners and runners-up:

Ruben Studdard - Sept. 26

Taylor Hicks - Nov. 14

Katharine McPhee - Nov. 14

Lora of Ohio writes:

I am a Clay Aiken fan.

Wondering if you think the release of the sophomore CD will actually be Sept. 19, 2006?? ... one of the many past rumored CD release dates.

I have signed up on your weekly e-mail list, thank you. I read your site almost everyday.

You do seem to be in the "know" somehow, so I was wondering if you had info to share?

Also, loved the response to the "Why do CD release dates get moved?" question ... very funny! And somehow seems sad but somewhat true.

Thanks for any response you can give.

No need to apologize for being a Claymaniac. There are many of you.

I did a little digging and still could not find any definitive release date. IMHO, for what it's worth: Sept. 19 seems unlikely, since Ruben Studdard's next album appears scheduled to come out around the same time. I can't imagine that two "Idol" stars - especially two who have remained such good friends - would want to go head-to-head. Also, the PR machine would likely be in place by now for a mid-September release.

Some Web sites are saying Aiken's CD more likely will arrive sometime in October - closer to the coveted Christmas-buying season.

Stay tuned.

(P.S. Hey, RCA, give us the scoop. What's going on?)

J. Kay of Lancaster, Pa., asks:

Heard anything about if and when "Let It Be," The Beatles film will be released on DVD?

Around this time last year, music sites were abuzz with news that "Let It Be" would be out on DVD in September. It never happened. Instead, Apple issued "Concert for Bangladesh."

Surely, Apple - you know, Paul, Ringo and Yoko - would want to put something Beatles-related out before Christmas. Will it be "Let It Be"? Your guess is as good as mine. Keep your fingers crossed.

I do, however, have a release date for the DVD debut of Blind Faith's "Hyde Park 1969": Sept. 19, via Sanctuary. The June 7 show in London was the super group's only filmed performance.

(P.S. Hey, Apple, give me a call. Let's do lunch, Paul. We'll discuss what you should remaster, putting all things Beatles on iTunes and giving me a nice, juicy interview.)

Reader R.W. of Phoenix asks, "Why do release dates get changed so much?"

Got an hour?

Record companies will tell you it's all about timing. If the hottest name in the music business is putting out an album the same week, the labels won't hesitate to move their prized possessions to another week so it won't face such stiff competition. There also are the typical squabbles over money, cover artwork and the "sell-ability" of the album.

Hip-hop releases, in particular, get moved around a lot because of delays in obtaining copyright clearances for use of samples.

But because the music industry is so bizarre, I'd like to think equally bizarre reasons can factor in ...

There's a full moon this week.

An artist looks cross-eyed at the label head.

Because the labels don't like Pause & Play and don't want to be pinned down to any release date. (Sure seems that way sometimes.)

The FedEx driver stole the master tapes.

Because the band turned in a load of crap.

The album won't get released until it's sung by an "American Idol" contestant.

The band, holed up in a remote Montana town, can't find its way back home.

Everything was leaked to the Internet, rendering any CD pressing useless.

Because the rap artist was shot to death, wounded, accused of shooting another rapper, arrested for carrying a concealed weapon or ordered his bodyguards to pummel a fan.

# posted by Gerry Galipault/Pause & Play @ 11:42 AM 0 comments