Arkansas Linkage: Al Green, Kevin Brockmeier and Wal-Mart putting the squeeze on major labels
The long-awaited, much-anticipated Al Green record finally has a name and a release date: "Lay it Down" comes out May 27 via Blue Note. Produced by Green in collaboration with Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (the Roots) and James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Common), features vocal contributions from Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, and Corinne Bailey Rae and horn work from the lately ubiquitous Dap-Kings (not that I'm mad that they're everywhere). See the track list after the jump. Via Pitchfork.
Kevin Brockmeier did a "Book Notes" for Largehearted Boy where he lists "Ten Songs from Science Fiction Bands."
Rolling Stone reports that Wal-Mart, the nation's leading music seller, wants to be able to sell all albums for $10 or less. According to the report, if record labels don't comply with this pricing request, "Wal-Mart execs have hinted that they could reduce their CD stock and replace it with more lucrative DVDs and video games."
...making sure Wal-Mart is happy remains one of the music industry's major priorities. That's because if Wal-Mart cut back on music, industry sales would suffer severely -- though Wal-Mart's shareholders would barely bat an eye. While Wal-Mart represents nearly twenty percent of major-label music sales, music represents only about two percent of Wal-Mart's total sales. "If they got out of selling music, it would mean nothing to them," says another label executive. "This keeps me awake at night."
This comes on the heels of iTunes is considering an "unlimited music" device. Give it for these valiant attempts to screw the consumer less.
Lay It Down:
01 Lay It Down [ft. Anthony Hamilton]
02 Just for Me
03 You've Got the Love I Need [ft. Anthony Hamilton]
04 No One Like You
05 What More Do You Want From Me
06 Take Your Time [ft. Corinne Bailey Rae]
07 Too Much
08 Stay With Me (By the Sea) [ft. John Legend]
09 All I Need
10 I'm Wild About You
11 Standing in the Rain
01 Lay It Down [ft. Anthony Hamilton]
02 Just for Me
03 You've Got the Love I Need [ft. Anthony Hamilton]
04 No One Like You
05 What More Do You Want From Me
06 Take Your Time [ft. Corinne Bailey Rae]
07 Too Much
08 Stay With Me (By the Sea) [ft. John Legend]
09 All I Need
10 I'm Wild About You
11 Standing in the Rain
