EMI Music Distribution has Music for Everyone On Your Holiday List

Business Wire, Oct 29, 1999

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1999--

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole,

Beach Boys, Kenny Rogers, Jethro Tull, Pat Benatar

& The Chipmunks Among Wide Variety of Releases

There's no reason why everyone shouldn't find some of their favorite music under their Christmas tree this year, thanks to Santa's helpers at EMI Music Distribution.

They've made their list and checked it twice to make sure they have something for everyone -- naughty or nice. The label's veritable sleigh full of nearly two dozen single discs and box sets covers all categories -- pop, rock, country, soul, kids and film -- as well as classic and new holiday favorites.

To get in the Christmas spirit, there are recordings by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. Bing Crosby's 1962 album "Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics," with 10 of the most popular holiday songs, has been expanded to include four bonus tracks, among them a duet with David Bowie from a 1977 Christmas TV special.

"The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole also contains a duet, a brand new version of the timeless classic title track with Nat and his daughter Natalie singing together through the wonders of technology. It is their first teaming since the Grammy(R)-winning, chart topper, "Unforgettable." "The Christmas Song" also includes a holiday message from Nat King Cole to fans as well as many traditional favorites incomparably performed in the crooner's own inimitable way.

The phrase "due to popular demand" is usually just so much hype, but in the case of "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra," it is absolutely true. First released in 1957, it sold over 100,000 copies last year after the death of the beloved singer. This year, the album's songs have been 24-bit digitally remastered and re-released. "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Silent Night," "White Christmas" and 11 other holiday favorites are performed as only Ol' Blue Eyes can do them.

For rockin' around the Christmas tree, there are Grammy(R) winners Pat Benatar and Jethro Tull and plenty of good vibrations from The Beach Boys. "Beach Boys Greatest Hits - Volume 1: 20 Good Vibrations" has been revised to include the original single mix versions of "Help Me Rhonda," "Be True to Your School," "Surfer Girl," "Little Deuce Coupe" and "California Girls."

A separate, newly released "Beach Boys Greatest Hits - Volume 2: 20 More Good Vibrations" not only features 10 more Top 40 hits such as, "When I Grow Up To Be A Man," but also the original single versions never before released on CD of "In My Room," "Don't Worry Baby." "Friends" and "Bluebirds Over The Mountain," as well as the out-of-print single version of "Caroline, No."

Combined, the two albums include all 26 of the Beach Boys' Top 40 hits of the `60s, 14 of the 15 Top 10s in their history, and all four of their No. 1s (including 1988's "Kokomo"). All have been digitally remastered and, except for "I Can Hear Music," "Breakaway" and "Kokomo," they are Brian Wilson's original mono mixes.

Jethro Tull was recently the answer to a question on the phenomenally popular TV game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" How many groups besides The Beatles can claim that honor? Not many. And the reissue of 10 of Tull's best albums shows why they remain unique.

Yes, the flute is a heavy metal instrument, as heard on "This Was," "Stand Up," "Benefit," "Living in the Past," "A Passion Play," "Songs from the Wood," "Broadsword and the Beast," "Rock Island," "Catfish Rising" and "Roots to Branches." The recordings span the years 1968 to 1995. Also available is "The Best of Jethro Tull (The Anniversary Collection)," a newly reintroduced, digitally remastered, full price double CD in a slimline case.

Long before the Lilith Fair was a gleam in Sarah McLachlan's eye, Pat Benatar was leading the charge to the top of the charts with "Heartbreaker," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "We Belong" and "Love Is A Battlefield." In celebration of the 20th anniversary of her debut album, the three-CD box set, "Synchronistic Wanderings: Recorded Anthology 1979-1999" is out now.

The definitive collection includes album versions of all 19 of her Top 40 singles, songs from various compilations, previously unreleased live recordings and outtakes, B-sides and rarities never before available on CD. Benatar is the proud owner of four Grammy(R) Awards for Best Rock Performance (Female), six platinum and three gold records.

Raise a toast to the new millennium with the King of Cool on "Late At Night With Dean Martin" or take comfort in his "Hurtin' Country Songs." For the first time ever, the best of the love songs Martin recorded for both Capitol and Reprise are now available on one album.

Among the 15 on "Late At Night With Dean Martin" are "Everybody Loves Somebody," "All I Do Is Dream of You," "Imagination," "Dream," "It's Easy To Remember," "My Melancholy Baby" and "Dream A Little Dream Of Me," all performed in an intimate musical setting.

Released for the first time, "Dean Martin - Hurtin' Country Songs" has 15 of the most popular, heart-wrenching country songs he recorded, many of which have been unavailable for several years and many that have never been released on CD. All of the songs were produced by country legend Jimmy Bowen.