In 2008, one half of the once popular Ferrante & Teicher composing and recording duo passed away (Lou Teicher).  They had collaborated to create some enduring songs, especially for film.  One of their most enduring tunes is the theme for Midnight Cowboy.  On Saturday, the remaining half of this amazing duo went on to join his friend.

Arthur Ferrante died at the age of 88, a fair existence for anyone.  But that doesn’t lessen the impact of his parting.  With Teicher, the pair went on to record some 150 albums, over 20 of them platinum and gold.  They retired in 1989 but their timeless music lives on.  With their departures, we lose one of the greatest recording duos ever.  But as they reunite in the Great Band, their genius lives on here.  I suggest a spin or download of their incredible “Theme for Midnight Cowboy.”  It would be the greatest salute that you can provide and it will enrich your musical library.  I truly miss the both of them!

Arthur Ferrante
1921-2009
RIP

Atlantic Records will be releasing Working Men for Rush, which is a 12-track performance collection ("Limelight," "The Spirit of Radio," "2112," "Freewill," "Dreamline," "Far Cry," "Subdivisions," "One Little Victory," "Closer to the Heart," "Tom Sawyer," "Working Man," "YYZ") planned for November 17. Rounder will release the DVD title for this one, same date.

Rounder Records will be reissuing R30 from Rush as a Blu-ray title on November 17.

Atlantic Records will also release the debut S/T album from American Idol contestant, Jason Castro. It is planned for November 17.

Flashback Records will reissue barebones 'best of' Country Hits series titles for the following: Ronnie Milsap; Donna Fargo; and Conway Twitty. These $5.99 SRP discs are expected on November 17.

ATG Records will release a Live CD/DVD set for Jason Mraz called Jason Mraz's A Beautiful Mess - Live on Earth. It is scheduled for November 10.

Elektra Records will release a 6CD Box for The Doors called Live in New York. This set is planned for November 10.

Reprise Records will reissue American Idiot by Green Day as a 2LP vinyl set. It will come with a poster. It is planned for November 3.

Columbia Records and Legacy Records will release Backtracks for AC/DC, scheduling the release for November 10. This release follows the reissue of the Deluxe Edition and standard CD edition of Black Ice by AC/DC, both planned for October 27.

RCA will release Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits for Christina Aquilera on DD, scheduling for October 6.

Jive Records will release the Sorry for Partyin' by Bowling for Soup on October 13.

Columbia plans to release A Cherry Cherry Christmas from Neil Diamond on October 13.

RCA Red Seal will release a Box set for Mario Lanza on November 10. The set will be called Original Album Classics.

Legacy Records hasl pushed a DD version of The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer yesterday. If you're waiting for it, here it is.

Rounder Records will release Some Day: The Fifteenth Anniversary collection for Blue Rodeo on January 19 (2010). We'll remind.

Deutsche Grammophon will release the Sting DVD of A Winter's Night...Live From Durham Cathedral on November 24.

Club Jazz fans should take immediate notice of City Life from the Jazz Quintet, The Dangling Success.  They build their endearing selection of songs, including a gracious rendition of The Rolling Stones' rockier “Beast of Burden,”into a collection of enjoyable instrumentals. 

The Niekrewicz experience is the centerpiece here with his saxophones.  But his accompanying band highlight his instrument with excellence, every note played in perfection.  The band's music is a time capture from the '70s and enjoyably so.  City Life is easy to fall in love with.  I highly recommend the full-album experience because you won't want to break this one apart. - ****

Imagine the AM radio Psychedelic Pop staples from the '60s and you're on target for the sound of the first album by Nurses.  Nurses is helmed by two pals who have recorded the body of this work, Apple's Acre, in attics and basements, delivering ten very cool-sounding retro-blasts that would have been at home in decades past.

This exploration of past musical styles have become the holy grail of bands, many who have dedicated themselves to the perfection of familiar sounds.  I'm not so sure that this is the case with Nurses as they sound like they would have invented the psychedelic/Pop style if it didn't already exist.  And that sentiment is very evident as you go from song to song.  Apple's Acre is a warm collection of songs that will have you interested from the beginning track. - ***

If you ever liked Echo and the Bunnymen, Siouxie and the Banshees, and/or killing Joke, then we have a new discovery for you. The Opposite Sex from DC has returned with an EP that juice those of you who appreciate good talent and that draws influence from the music that you loved in the past.

Their new (09/01) EP, Live + Burn follows their Violent Heartstrings from 2007 with more great music. I'll be surprised if you DON'T like 'em. To get you started, they are gifitng you with a free downloadable MP3 from the EP, "Frozen Heart, Frozen Mind."

They can be sampled further at their MySpace, Facebook, and LastFM. You can even follow 'em on Twitter.