FAR MORE BONUS TRACKS

Regina Spektor's Far (the digital download) is now pre-orderable on iTunes.  It's showing three addtional studio tracks and one live version.

• Time Is All Around
  
• The Sword & The Pen
  
• Riot Gear
  
• The Flowers (Live- Begin To Hope Tour)

Could Jeff Lynne have produced one of these three bonus studio tracks.  Time will tell.  

And there are early indications that the Special Edition of Far (with a DVD) will include extra songs, interviews, and videos.

SINGLES SCENE

Good discussion over at the ELO Forever Boards about the Regina Spektor album, including this from Shilo:

They really should have gone with BLUE LIPS as the first single, IMO. Not only is the chorus much more immediate and memorable than LAUGHING WITH, but it has a far better melody as well.

You know, I think the way they're doing it is smart.  The old "first single" rules are totally changed now.  Not just one song anymore.  Laughing With has very pointed lyrics that will connect, so that was a great "first single" choice.  Now it has a video, too.  But by putting out Blue Lips almost right after, it's suggesting the album is way more flavorful.  Blue Lips seems to be a great choice for that.  Tell me the first 30 seconds (or so) isn't absolutely brilliant.  Then, the way the song just busts open is perfection!

You can now buy the Laughing With video on iTunes.  Blue Lips should have a lavish video,too.  But then again, I would probably crap myself if they made one.  And by the way, they already have a new (lower budget) video of a third album track: Dance Anthem of the 80s...

I think this strategy will work for her. 

DEAR REGINA FANS...

If there are Regina Spektor fans out there finding this blog to read/find out/hear more about Jeff, may I suggest:

• Tom Petty - Highway Companion (especially Square One and Down South)  Special Edition has 4 more songs.
  
• Traveling Wilburys Volume One        and if you're feeling adventurous:
• ELO - A New World Record - the version with 6 bonus tracks.

ADD VINYL AND STIR

You have more options when you go to buy Regina Spektor's Far on June 23.

Standard CD

Special Edition CD with DVD

and now also on vinyl which may (or may not) come with a CD enclosed.  They've been doing that a lot lately.

Nothing yet about what will be on the DVD...

Regina's Laughing With & (the produced by Jeff Lynne) Blue Lips can be bought and downloaded on Amazon and iTunes.

And in case you missed it, here she is preforming Blue Lips on Later... With Jools Holland.

(Sorry about the formatting problem...)

THE IPOD'S SMOKING...

I'm starting to go bonkers over Blue Lips.

Why doesn't he produce music more often?

FIRST LIP(S) IMPRESSION

UPDATE: The song is uploaded to her MySpace page now and you can buy a download it starting tomorrow on Amazon.

First, I think it helps to follow along with the lyrics. (Below) I think when it hits me what the song is about, I'll go nuts.

I'm dropping all notions that Far will be a pop record.  This (in the case of Blue Lips) is actually two people with unique and amazing musical ideas.  There are enough Jeff Lynne flavors here to keep us interested, but there's something new and different going on, too.  Shame that there aren't more ELO fans on board with his producing.  His producing is still ripe, especially in a setting like this.

Her voice is amazing.  Her piano playing here is dreamy.  The strings are gorgeous.  And the way the song rises and falls in intensity gets more appealing over time.  This is one of those songs that you'll pick up on something new the more you play it.

I love it.

BLUE LIPS LYRICS

He stumbled into faith and thought,

"God, this is all there is."

The pictures in his mind arose,

And began to breathe.

And all the gods and all the worlds

Began colliding on a

Backdrop of blue.

Blue lips,

Blue veins.

He took a step, but then felt tired.

He said, "I'll rest a little while."

But when he tried to walk again,

He wasn't a child.

And all the people hurried fast,

Real fast,

And no one ever smiled.

Blue lips,

Blue veins.

Blue, the color of our planet from far, far away.

Blue lips,

Blue veins.

Blue, the color of our planet from far, far away.

He stumbled into faith and thought,

"God, this is all there is."

The pictures in his mind arose,

And began to breathe.

And no one saw, and no one heard.

They just followed the lead.

The pictures in his mind awoke,

And began to breed.

They started out beneath the knowledge tree.

Then they chopped it down to make white picket fences,

And, marching along the railroad tracks,

They smile real wide for the camera lense.

They made it past the enemy lines

Just to become enslaved in the assembly lines.

Blue lips,

Blue veins.

Blue,

The color of our planet from far, far away.

Blue lips,

Blue veins.

Blue,

The color of our planet from far, far away.

Blue,

The most human color.

Blue,

The most human color.

Blue,

The most human color.

Blue lips,

Blue veins.

Blue,

The color of our planet from far, far away. 

BLUE LIPS

Taking Blue Lips for a test run.  Will post a few thoughts a bit later today once it sinks in a bit.  Post what you think if you've heard it.

LAUGHING WITH BLUE LIPS

Anyone buying tickets to Regina Spektor's concert (already sold out) at the Beacon Theatre in New York will be get a free 2-track download featuring Laughing With and the Jeff Lynne-produced Blue Lips on May 18.

There's a short sample of it on Amazon, but you can't buy the full version until Tuesday May 19.  The sample fades out just as you catch a good taste of any Jeff Lynne hallmark.

AND MORE...

Amazon UK's listing for Regina Spektor's Far adds the track times:

1. The Calculation - 3:13 

2. Eet - 3:54 

3. Blue Lips - 3:34 

4. Folding Chair - 3:35 

5. Machine - 3:51 

6. Laughing With - 3:18 

7. Human of the Year - 4:12 

8. Two Birds - 3:23 

9. Dance Anthem of the 80's - 3:44 

10. Genius Next Door - 5:10   (is that a misprint?)  :-) 

11. Wallet - 2:30 

12. One More Time With Feeling - 4:03 

13. Man of a Thousand Faces - 3:12 

MORE FAR DETAILS

Big Hassle Media has what appears to be Regina Spektor's press release for her new album, Far.  

Jeff Lynne produced:

Blue Lips

Genius Next Door

Folding Chair

The Wallet

He produced a total of five tracks for her, the fifth could conceivably come along with the Special Edition or the digital edition or perhaps some other version of the album down the road.  Stay tuned.

Oh, and we'll aparently be hearing Jeff's voice on the record, too.

BY THE WAY...

Laughing With was posted roughly 36 hours ago.  It already has almost 30,000 hits.

FAR TRACK LIST

Regina put up the track list for Far on her MySpace page, where you can listen to the first single, Laughing With...

and Laughing With is quickly growing on me.

Anyway, the track list (no producer credits yet):

1. The Calculation

2. Eet

3. Blue Lips

4. Folding Chair

5. Machine

6. Laughing With

7. Human of the Year

8. Two Birds

9. Dance Anthem

10. Genius next door

11. Wallet

12. One more time with feeling

13. Man of a Thousand Faces

LAUGHING WITH...

Looks like there's a tweak to the album artwork...

More importantly, the first single from Regina Spektor's Far is up on MySpace... I can't confirm anything yet, but even though the vocal is bone dry, I'm guessing Laughing With is not one of the Jeff Lynne tracks.  If this track is any indication, though, this CD will be completely unconventional.

Now, I'm psyched...

I find it kinda gripping either way.  Post your thoughts on it...

FAR OUT ARTWORK

Here's a nice way to kick off a Monday morning.  We now have the artwork for Regina Spektor's new album Far with (perhaps) five Jeff Lynne productions on it.  I imagine the track list and producer credits are not too far behind.

Here are some links to the artwork and a few wallpapers.  By the way... love!  it!

STARTING TO ROLL ALONG...

Amazon is the first show what's likely the artwork for Let It Roll: The Songs of George Harrison.

UPDATE: The track list :

1. Got My Mind Set On You 
2. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) 
3. The Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) 
4. My Sweet Lord 
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Live - Concert For Bangladesh Soundtrack) 
6. All Things Must Pass 
7. Any Road 
8. This Is Love 
9. All Those Years Ago 
10. Marwa Blues 
11. What Is Life 
12. Rising Sun 
13. When We Was Fab 
14. Something (Live - Concert For Bangladesh Soundtrack) 
15. Blow Away 
16. Cheer Down 
17. Here Comes The Sun (Live - Concert For Bangladesh Soundtrack) 
18. I Don't Want To Do It 
19. Isn't It A Pity

FTM'S FRONT PAGE

For the record, there's a nice shot of Jeff's interview at the ASCAP I Create Music Expo on Face The Music Online's front page.

SO FAR...

No track list or producer credits yet, but it appears Regina Spektor's Far will also be released as a Special Edition with a DVD.

HERE IS (MAYBE) THE NEWS??

There's an interesting post on Reuter's Fan Fare blog ahead of Jeff Lynne's interview and Golden Note Award on Friday in Los Angeles.  It's the first real sign that he's been working on his own material since the lead-up to Zoom in 2001.

Lynne, the bearded Svengali famed for leading the art-rock band Electric Light Orchestra, is also working on a solo album, which he hopes to release later this year. It would be the follow-up to his first solo outing, 1990’s “Armchair Theatre.”

Although we've been down this road before in terms of timeline, it's encouraging.  And, says the report:

He has just finished producing five tracks at his home studio with singer/songwriter Regina Spektor, and plans to work on some songs with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh.

Hopefully that means five songs that all made the album.  We're all still awaiting Far's finalized track list.  The Joe Walsh material will probably take a while since The Eagles are touring at least through July.

A MUST HEAR...

UPDATE (April 22):  The full 90 version is online through Saturday on BBC6 Music.

If you missed BBC Radio 2's The Record Producers with Roy Wood, you only have a few days to hear it online.  There's a great break-down of 10538 Overture (among other tracks) using the multi-tracks.

Note: The link will be become a dead end on Monday.

This is partly why I was dismayed that the real take 1 of 10538 Overture wasn't issued even as an online bonus mp3.  It's great listening.