Beyonce Belts It Out On 'Cadillac' Soundtrack

Beyonce's cover of Etta James' "At Last" will lead the soundtrack for "Cadillac Records," due Dec. 2 from Columbia. Beyonce stars as James in the film, which chronicles the rise and fall of iconic label Chess Records.

"I realized that Etta James was so unapologetic, bold and strong that playing her was a big risk for me," Beyonce recently told Billboard of the experience. "It gave me the confidence and the push to challenge myself a little more with my music."

The soundtrack, which will be available in both single- and double-disc editions, also includes tracks from Mos Def (portraying Chuck Berry), Jeffrey Wright (as Muddy Waters), Columbus Short (as Little Walter) and Eamonn Walker (as Howlin' Wolf).

Raphael Saadiq, Beyonce's sister Solange, Mary Mary, Nas, Buddy Guy and Elvis Presley also have songs on the album.

"Cadillac Records" opens Dec. 5 in U.S. theaters. "People will be most surprised that the glamorous Beyonce allowed herself to be seen in the desperate straits that Etta went through, including her heroin addiction," says Sony BMG Music Entertainment chairman Andrew Lack, who produced "Cadillac Records" with Sony BMG Films executive VP Sophia Sondervan. "That's a Beyonce I don't think anyone's seen yet."

Here is the track list for "Cadillac Records":Disc one:"I'm a Man," Jeffrey Wright"At Last," Beyonce"No Particular Place To Go," Mos Def"I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man," Jeffrey Wright"Once in a Lifetime," Beyonce"Let's Talk a Walk," Raphael Saadiq"6 O'Clock Blues," Solange"Nadine," Mos Def"The Sound," Mary Mary"Last Night," Little Walter"I'd Rather Go Blind," Beyonce"My Babe," Columbus Short"Bridging the Gap," Nas featuring Olu DaraDisc two:"Maybellene," Mos Def"Forty Days and Forty Nights," Buddy Guy"Trust in Me," Beyonce"Juke," Kim Wilson"Smokestack Lightnin'," Eamonn Walker"Promised Land," Mos Def"All I Could Do Was Cry," Beyonce"My Babe," Elvis Presley"I Can't Be Satisfied," Jeffrey Wright"Come On," Mos Def"Country Blues," Jeffrey Wright"Evolution of a Man," Q-Tip and Al Kapone"Radio Station," Terence Blanchard.

news source of www.billboard.com

Read more...

Superstars Sign On For 'TRL' Finale

Some of the biggest names in pop music will be on hand Sunday (Nov. 16) for the final episode of MTV's "Total Request Live," including Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Nelly in a one-off performance.

Other performances will be turned in by Beyonce, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy and the Backstreet Boys. Justin Timberlake, Kid Rock, JC Chasez, Christina Aguilera, Travis Barker, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Hilary Duff, Fred Durst and Korn's Jonathan Davis will also be on hand.

"TRL" debuted in September 1998 amid the teen pop music craze led by Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. Various hosts from throughout the show's history will also be on hand for the finale.

news source of www.billboard.com

Read more...

Ben Harper Rocks Out With New Band

Ben Harper is recording an album with a new band, Relentless7, and will play a handful of club shows next month to introduce the material.

"White Lies for Dark Times" is due in May via Virgin and finds Harper backed by guitarist Jason Mozersky, drummer Jordan Richardson and bassist Jesse Ingalls, the latter two of the Los Angeles band Oliver Future.

Relentless7's Web site is now streaming a ripping cover of Led Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times" (which Harper played with Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Roots drummer ?uestlove at Bonnaroo in 2007) and the original "Serve Your Soul," a riffy blast which fades out into piano and violin.

The group debuted Oct. 29 during a Beastie Boys-led "get out the vote" show in Youngstown, Ohio, and will be back on the road starting Dec. 3 in Solana Beach, Calif.

A Harper spokesperson says the artist's longtime band, the Innocent Criminals, has not broken up and that Harper simply wanted to try something different this time around.


Save Email Print Most Popular RSS Reprints
Ben Harper Rocks Out With New Band
Ben Harper

Similar Stories Topics



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STORIES

Beastie Boys Add Dates To Swing State Tour

Beastie Boys Plot Star-Studded Vote Shows

Johnson Shines Through Rain At All Points West

Radiohead Rocks All Points West All Over Again

Beastie Boys In The 'Middle' Of New Album


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



November 11, 2008 , 1:25 PM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Ben Harper is recording an album with a new band, Relentless7, and will play a handful of club shows next month to introduce the material.

"White Lies for Dark Times" is due in May via Virgin and finds Harper backed by guitarist Jason Mozersky, drummer Jordan Richardson and bassist Jesse Ingalls, the latter two of the Los Angeles band Oliver Future.

Relentless7's Web site is now streaming a ripping cover of Led Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times" (which Harper played with Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Roots drummer ?uestlove at Bonnaroo in 2007) and the original "Serve Your Soul," a riffy blast which fades out into piano and violin.

The group debuted Oct. 29 during a Beastie Boys-led "get out the vote" show in Youngstown, Ohio, and will be back on the road starting Dec. 3 in Solana Beach, Calif.

A Harper spokesperson says the artist's longtime band, the Innocent Criminals, has not broken up and that Harper simply wanted to try something different this time around.


His last album, 2007's "Lifeline," has sold 173,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Here are Relentless7's tour dates:

Dec. 3: Solana Beach, Calif. (Belly Up Tavern)
Dec. 4: Los Angeles (Spaceland)
Dec. 5: Los Angeles (the Mint)
Dec. 7: Santa Cruz, Calif. (the Catalyst)
Dec. 8: San Francisco (the Independent)

news source of www.billboard.com

Read more...