This year will mark the twenty-fifth year since the release of Alanis Morissette's ground breaking album, "Jagged Little Pill". And a rock musical inspired by the record called "Jagged Little Pill" which used songs from the album and other material from Morissette was created in 2018 and opened on Broadway last December. The Canadian performer was going to embark on a world tour in celebration of that milestone and promote new music yet those plans came to a crashing halt due to the pandemic which has continued to keep the entire planet shut down.
Morissette has chosen not to let that delay her new music and has released "Such Pretty Forks in the Road", her first album in eight years. The singer has been working on this project since 2018, trying to squeeze time in between marriage (to fellow musician, Mario "Souleye" Treadway since 2010) and raising children (with three to date and the youngest was just born last year). The forty-six year old Morissette (who co-wrote "Such Pretty Forks" with Michael Farrell and features production by Alex Hope and Catherine Marks) has moved on from youthful angst in her music and is now sharing her experiences on more mature subject matters like addiction, mental illness and postpartum depression. Yet these songs are still fueled with a powerful raw energy and thoughtful, urgent lyrics.
A music video for the song, "Ablaze", which is a loving dedication to her children, was just released. It is a true family affair as the clip features Morissette's husband and their little ones at home.
Hailee Steinfeld first came on the radar as an actress with her moving performance in the Coen brothers remake of "True Grit" that earned the then thirteen year old an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2010. She introduced her singing voice this summer in the hit sequel to "Pitch Perfect" which lead to Steinfeld signing a record deal with Republic Records. Her debut single, "Love Myself" is now out and it's pop perfection.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the release of "Jagged Little Pill", Alanis Morissette's emotionally raw, alt-rock album that connected with millions of listeners. She first found fame as a teen dance-pop singer in her native Canada with her self-titled debut album before being dropped by her label after a disastrous second. At a crossroads, Morissette picked up and moved to Toronto to start over. A chance introduction to songwriter/producer, Glen Ballard lead to them working together and shifting her musical direction. Only one label, Madonna's Maverick Records, was interested in releasing the edgy finished product and the rest is history. "Pill" won four Grammy Awards including Album of The Year and has sold thirty-three million copies worldwide to date. These are my favorite tracks off the album:
After finding great success with their live televised musical productions of "The Sound of Music" and "Peter Pan", NBC is preparing their latest (and one that I'm really looking forward to), "The Wiz". An interesting cast has been assembled with David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion, Ne-Yo as the Tin Man, Elijah Kelley (who was in the musical film version of "Hairspray") is the Scarecrow, Mary J. Blige plays Evillene, the Wicked Witch and Queen Latifah is The Wiz. And as for this show's Dorothy? A nationwide, open casting-call lead Shanice Williams, an eighteen-year old theater performer from New Jersey, to make her television debut. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the previous live telecasts, return to executive produce and it's set to air on December 3rd. In honor of the upcoming show, listen to Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, from the 1978 movie version, performing the classic, "Ease On Down The Road":
I was hoping Miss Ross might have made an appearance here, maybe as Glinda, the Good Witch? I am thrilled that Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in the original Broadway show back in 1974, will appear as Aunt Em. Enjoy this music video of Mills performing "Home", the moving, closing number from the musical she re-recorded in 1989:
Since this is my first post, I decided to look back on the first time we heard the music of some of my favorite artists. Here are the first group:
JANET JACKSON - "CONTROL" - (1985)
Although this was Janet Jackson's third album following, "Janet Jackson" (1982) and "Dream Street" (1984), this was her first record that made any impact with the public. She was the youngest of the musical Jackson clan and while she dabbled in acting on the television shows. "Good Times" and "Fame", but it was still music that got her out of the shadow of her famous family.
After releasing the first two records, where she had little say on the music she recorded, she was teamed up with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, formerly of the band, The Time where they took her out of her home environment, went to their recording studios in Minnesota and together they wrote the songs for the record where she finally took control of her music career.
She went on to release a total of ten CD's and has sold over 100 million records worldwide.
This is the first song that kicked off her career:
Like Janet Jackson, this was not Alanis Morissette's first record but the one where she was first achieved world-wide musical fame. She released two records as a teenager in her native Canada. The first,"Alanis" (1991) was a pop album which was very successful in Canada and the follow-up, "Now Is The Time" (1992) did not do nearly as well.
After she finished high school, Alanis went to Los Angeles where she met up with producer and songwriter, Glen Ballard and together they created Alanis's first international smash hit.
Alanis went on to release a total of ten albums to date, won seven Grammy Awards and has sold 40 million records world wide.
She may be the daughter of singer, Cissy Houston and the cousin of Dionne Warwick but she has a voice that is all her own. She was part of her mother's stage act when she was discovered by the head of Arista Records, Clive Davis and he promptly signed her to his label.
This album, at the time, was the biggest selling debut by a female artist. She has released seven albums so far, has won six Grammy Awards and has sold a total of over 170 million records around the globe.
