NEWS DIGEST: Wednesday, September 24

1:47 PM GMT 24/09/2008

Legendary soul and black pop label Motown celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, they’re putting their back catalogue in the hands of the public. In partnership with Poll The People, the label is running an online survey to find the world’s best-loved Motown hits. The top 50 will make up The Motown 50, which will be released on December 1. Head over to the poll to cast your vote.

With sales of the band’s fourth album Seldom Seen Kid up 668 per cent since winning the Mercury Prize (according to HMV), it looks like Elbow have found a good way to spend their extra pennies. The band has announced an ambitious new plan to make, and record music for, an animated children’s film. Vocalist Guy Garvey revealed: “We’ve quite often been up for having songs on children’s animated films, but we thought that it would be great to actually be at the starting point for that process.” The band will work on the film’s narrative and music, and then decide who will animate it. Adults need not fear being left out in the cold, however, as the project will run alongside the recording of the band’s as-yet-untitled fifth album.

Alan Vega, better known as one half of proto-punk duo Suicide, reached the ripe old age of 70 this year, and indie label Blast First Petite is honouring him by releasing a yearlong series of monthly EPs. The series kicks off on October 6, with the release of Bruce Springsteen’s live cover of Suicide’s Dream Baby Dream, and The Horrors covering Shadazz. Other artists who have contributed covers for release over the next year include Grinderman, Primal Scream, Spiritualized and Julian Cope. Check out Blast First’s site for more details.

Having rocked three sold-out nights at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire to mark the 40th anniversary of Odessey & Oracle, The Zombies have announced a 2009 UK tour. The baroque pop visionaries will play the following venues next April:

Glasgow ABC (April 21)
Bristol Colston Hall (April 23)
Manchester Bridgewater Hall (April 24)
London Hammersmith Apollo (April 25)

Tickets for all dates go on sale Thursday September 25, go to www.aloud.com to get your hands on one.

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 1:47 PM GMT 24/09/2008

Mojo - The Music Magazine

Navigation

Disc of the day

Heaven 17 - Penthouse And Pavement

New issue

News