TWISTA

KAMIKAZE

Double-Platinum Album Celebrates 20th Anniversary

First Time On 2LP Burnt Orange Vinyl Available Now

New Dolby Atmos Mix Out February 2

LOS ANGELES – Today marks the 20th anniversary of Kamikaze, revolutionary rapper Twista’s 2004 return to hip-hop. The groundbreaking record recently earned double-platinum status from the RIAA, reaffirming Twista’s status as the genre’s fastest and most skilled lyricist. 

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Kamikaze is available now for the first time on vinyl as a 2LP burnt orange set. A new Dolby Atmos mix will be available on digital and streaming platforms on February 2. 

Twista emerged from the Chicago hip-hop scene, initially gaining recognition in the early 1990s as Tung Twista. In 1996, he rebranded himself as Twista and stunned fans and critics with his incredibly smooth rapid-fire words on the hit single "Po Pimp" with rap trio Do Or Die. He earned acclaim as the fastest rapper in the world, holding the 1992 Guinness World Record title after his debut Atlantic Records release, Resurrection. Following his debut, Twista gained widespread recognition with his 1997 RIAA platinum-certified album Adrenaline Rush.

After a seven-year hiatus, Twista returned in 2004 with Kamikaze, quickly becoming a game-changer in the rap scene. The album, known for its high-energy beats and rapid-fire delivery, showcased Twista's unparalleled talent and left an indelible mark on hip-hop. Kamikaze boasts an impressive lineup of collaborations featuring renowned artists such as Jamie Foxx, Kanye West, and Ludacris. The album reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 with the hit singles "Slow Jamz" and "Overnight Celebrity," recently certified platinum and multi-platinum by the RIAA. The former earned the rapper a 2004 BET Award for Best Collaboration, cementing his status as a respected figure in the hip-hop community.

 

Kamikaze

Tracklist

Side 1

1. Get Me
2. Kill Us All
3. Pimp On (feat. 8 Ball & Too Short)
4. Slow Jamz (feat. Kanye West & Jamie Foxx)
5. Overnight Celebrity
6. Still Feels So Good (feat. Jazze Pha)
7. Drinks
8. Badunkadunk

Side 2

1. One Last Time
2. So Sexy (feat. R. Kelly)
3. Higher (feat. Ludacris)
4. Snoopin'
5. Like a 24 (feat. T.I. & Liffy Stokes)
6. Hope (feat. Cee-Lo)
7. Sunshine (feat. Anthony Hamilton)
8. Art & Life (Chi-Roc) [feat. Memphis Bleek, Young Chris & Freeway]

 

ALICE COOPER

Billion Dollar Babies “Trillion Dollar” Deluxe Edition

3-LP And 2-CD Versions With Remastered Sound, Outtakes, Live Tracks, And More Arriving March 8

 

LOS ANGELES – “Hello Hooray,” a new version of Billion Dollar Babies, is on the way as Alice Cooper’s delightfully subversive sixth album returns in all its snakeskin glory for an extended 50th-anniversary celebration. After hitting #1 on the album charts in America and the U.K. in 1973, the record remains a highwater mark for the original lineup, featuring hits like “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “Elected.”

BILLION DOLLAR BABIES: “Trillion Dollar” DELUXE EDITION will be available from Rhino on March 8 on 3-LP and 2-CD. Both feature a newly remastered version of the original album, along with bonus material, including studio outtakes, single mixes, and an electrifying 1973 concert recording. In the vinyl edition, the gatefold cover faithfully replicates the original’s textured snakeskin wallet design and comes complete with a $1 billion dollar bill tucked inside. 

An instant smash when it was released in March 1973, Billion Dollar Babies delivered a theatrical mix of hard rock and glam laced with macabre lyrics that explored wealth, decadence, and fame’s darker side. Newly remastered, the platinum-certified album sounds better than ever. The set also features outtakes (“Coal Black Model T”), single mixes (“Mary Ann”), and “Slick Black Limousine,” which originally came out on flexi-disc within an issue of the British rock paper New Musical Express.

The “Trillion Dollar” Deluxe Edition also features a live show recorded in Texas in April of 1973, during the “Billion Dollar Babies” tour. The powerful performance includes live versions of many of the album’s tracks, highlights including “Elected” and “Hello Hooray,” along with several of the band’s earlier hits, including “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out.”

The LP and CD versions both come with an oral history of the album and the bonus tracks by the surviving band members – Alice Cooper, Dennis Dunaway, Michael Bruce, and Neal Smith – and Bob Ezrin, who produced the album. (Sadly, guitarist Glen Buxton died in 1997)

In the notes, Cooper recalls writing “I Love The Dead” and “Sick Things.” He says, “We were writing those songs looking at each other, and every time we’d write a line I’d say, ‘Oh, this is gonna kill them. Oh, they’re gonna hate us on this one.’ But at the same time, it was almost like an Edgar Allan Poe short story when you listen to ‘I Love The Dead.’ I tried to write that the way Vincent Price would sing it.”

BILLION DOLLAR BABIES: 50TH “TRILLION DOLLAR” DELUXE EDITION

LP Track Listing

 

LP One

Side One

1. “Hello Hooray”

2. “Raped And Freezin’”

3. “Elected”

4. “Billion Dollar Babies”

5. “Unfinished Sweet”

 

Side Two

1. “No More Mr. Nice Guy”

2. “Generation Landslide”

3. “Sick Things”

4. “Mary Ann”

5. “I Love The Dead”

 

LP Two

Side One

1. “Hello Hooray” – Live, 1973

2. “Billion Dollar Babies” – Live, 1973

3. “Elected” – Live, 1973 

4. “I’m Eighteen” – Live, 1973

5. “Raped And Freezin’” – Live, 1973 

6. “No More Mr. Nice Guy” – Live, 1973

 

Side Two

1. “My Stars” – Live, 1973 

2. “Unfinished Sweet” – Live, 1973

3. “Sick Things” – Live, 1973

4. “Dead Babies” – Live, 1973

5. “I Love The Dead” – Live, 1973

 

LP Three

Side One

1. “School’s Out” – Live, 1973

2. “Under My Wheels” – Live, 1973

3. “Coal Black Model T” – Outtake 

4. “Son Of Billion Dollar Babies (Generation Landslide)” – Outtake

 

Side Two

1. “Hello Hooray” – Single Version

2. “Billion Dollar Babies” – Single Version

3. “Elected” – Single Version

4. “Mary Ann” – Single Version

5. “Slick Black Limousine”

 

CD Track Listing

CD One

1. “Hello Hooray”

2. “Raped And Freezin’”

3. “Elected”

4. “Billion Dollar Babies”

5. “Unfinished Sweet”

6. “No More Mr. Nice Guy”

7. “Generation Landslide”

8. “Sick Things”

9. “Mary Ann”

10. “I Love The Dead”

 

CD Two

1. “Hello Hooray” – Live, 1973

2. “Billion Dollar Babies” – Live, 1973

3. “Elected” – Live, 1973 

4. “I’m Eighteen” – Live, 1973

5. “Raped And Freezin’” – Live, 1973 

6. “No More Mr. Nice Guy” – Live, 1973

7. “My Stars” – Live, 1973 

8. “Unfinished Sweet” – Live, 1973

9. “Sick Things” – Live, 1973

10. “Dead Babies” – Live, 1973

11. “I Love The Dead” – Live, 1973

12. “School’s Out” – Live, 1973

13. “Under My Wheels” – Live, 1973

14. “Coal Black Model T” – Outtake 

15. “Son Of Billion Dollar Babies (Generation Landslide)” – Outtake

16. “Hello Hooray” – Single Version

17. “Billion Dollar Babies” – Single Version

18. “Elected” – Single Version

19. “Mary Ann” – Single Version

20. “Slick Black Limousine”

 

Quadraphonic Albums​ Available For The First Time In 50 Years

 

Average White Band’s Self-Titled, Gil Evans’ Svengali, 

Randy Newman’s Good Old Boys, WAR’s The World Is A Ghetto

 

All Titles Issued On Blu-ray With Quadraphonic And ​Hi-Res ​Stereo​

 

LOS ANGELES – Today, Rhino releases another set of high-quality quadraphonic releases, back in circulation after nearly 50 years; this next set features Average White Band’s Self-Titled (1974), Gil Evans’ Svengali (1973), Randy Newman’s Good Old Boys (1974) and WAR’s The World Is A Ghetto (1972). 

Available now, each title makes its Blu-ray debut with both a quadraphonic and 192/24 stereo mix. Currently exclusive to Rhino.com, with limited quantities at Warner stores internationally, each title retails for $24.98, with a bundle of all four available for $79.98. Fans can also mix and match any four Quadio titles from the series for $78.98.

Quadraphonic sound, or 4.0 surround sound, utilizes four audio channels connected to four speakers positioned at the corners of a listening space. The ​multi-tracked ​audio is mixed dimensional, immersing the listener in an expansive soundscape. 

Steve Woolard, Director of A&R for the Quadio series, states, “It’s been exciting to see the overwhelmingly positive reception with the relaunch of the Quadio series. These are transferred from the original half-inch four-channel masters at 192/24 resolution and sound amazing. Considering they’ve been in the vault for 50 years, the tapes were in pristine condition and needed no tweaks or fixes. They sound as fresh, rich, and powerful as the day they were created. And, of course, there’s also a 192/24 stereo program from the two-track master as well. Just because.” 

Scottish funk group Average White Band’s self-titled sophomore album dominated the charts after its 1974 release, with the hit track “Pick Up the Pieces” peaking at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Gil Evans, renowned jazz composer and arranger, released his live orchestral jazz album Svengali in 1973, featuring a star-studded lineup of jazz musicians, including Ted Dunbar, Howard Johnson, David Sanborn, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, and more.

Randy Newman's concept album Good Old Boys explored the social and economic issues of the Deep South and found commercial success, peaking at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 and featuring the tracks “Louisiana 1927” and “Every Man a King.” The 1973 Billboard Album of the Year, WAR’s The World Is A Ghetto, saw the group leaning towards a progressive soul and jazz sound. The record housed the gold-certified tracks “The Cisco Kid” and “The World Is A Ghetto.”

Rhino’s Quadio series will continue to dig deep into Warner’s archives to reintroduce the greatest hits from Rock, Blues, R&B, and more in their highly anticipated quadraphonic sound. Audiophiles can expect more amazing quadraphonic experiences from Rhino in the future. 

 

 

JETHRO TULL 

THE CHÂTEAU D’HEROUVILLE SESSIONS

REMIXED BY STEVEN WILSON ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME

AVAILABLE ON 2LP MARCH 15

 

LOS ANGELES - Prior to the release of their A Passion Play album in 1973, Jethro Tull recorded three sides of a double album at the Château d’Hérouville studio near Paris, France. Things did not go well, and the project was aborted.

In the summer of 1972, the band was riding high on the crest of a popularity wave, as they sold out huge arenas on the back of their critically acclaimed, chart-topping fifth album, Thick As A Brick. They went into the renowned studio, where the likes of David Bowie, Elton John, Pink Floyd and Cat Stevens had previously recorded. The band quickly nicknamed it ‘Chateau D’isaster’ after a series of equipment failures, bed bugs and food poisoning.

After a band meeting where the decision was made to return to the UK, they part-recorded a treasure trove of quirky material on master tapes, which were ferried back to continue to work on in London - only to decide to start over with a whole new album project, which was to become A Passion Play, released in 1973.

And so the Château tapes became the great lost album of Tull mythology until 20 years later when Ian Anderson reworked and completed most of the original material to release on the Nightcap album as the Chateau d’Isaster Tapes. Then, in 2013, they received a make-over by Steven Wilson, for inclusion on the A Passion Play: An Extended Performance book-set. Now, for the first time, these recordings will be available on vinyl. The Château D'Hérouville Sessions will be released as a 2LP set on March 15.

About the album, Ian Anderson says, “There are some good things going on there, and I really quite like the songs which had lyrics, lots of theatrical references such as the bomb in the dressing room. I was trying to create this idea of the world of theatre somehow mirroring the real life outside on the streets and in society.”

 

TRACKLISTING:

Side 1

1. The Big Top

2. Scenario

3. Audition

4. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day

5. Sailor

6. No Rehearsal

 

Side 2

1. Left Right

2. Solitare

3. Critique Oblique (Part I)

4. Critique Oblique (Part II)

 

Side 3

1. Animelee (1st Dance)

2. Animelee (2nd Dance)

3. The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles

4. Law of the Bungle (Part I)

5. Tiger Toon

6. Law of the Bungle (Part II)

 

Side 4

1. Chateau D'isaster Tapes (Scenario/Audition/No Rehearsal) (1988 Box Set Mix)

2. Only Solitare (1974 WarChild Mix)

3. The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles (1973 A Passion Play Mix)

4. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day (1974 WarChild Mix)

 

 

CHAKA KHAN

Chaka

 

Grammy-Winning Singer’s 1978 Solo Debut With Newly Remastered Sound 

Available March 22 On CD And Vinyl

 

LOS ANGELES – Chaka Khan earned her spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, capping a remarkable five-decade career highlighted by her 10 Grammy® Awards.

In celebration, Rhino is reissuing her solo albums with newly remastered sound by Bernie Grundman. The series begins with the record that started it all. CHAKA will arrive March 22 on 1CD and 1LP, with a special red-vinyl version available exclusively at Barnes & Noble. 

The newly remastered Chaka is now available for pre-order.

After recording a string of platinum albums as the lead singer of the influential funk band Rufus (“Tell Me Something Good” and “Sweet Thing”), Khan embarked on her solo journey in 1978 with CHAKA. The album continued the singer’s hot streak, achieving platinum status and establishing Khan as a hitmaker in her own right with the anthemic first single, “I’m Every Woman.” 

The song topped the R&B chart and crossed over to the pop chart, reaching #21 on the Hot 100 and Top 20 in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. It became one of her signature songs, earning Khan a Grammy® nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance.

The reissue of CHAKA includes a heartfelt note from Khan, expressing her gratitude for the people who helped her make the album, such as Ashford & Simpson, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, and Arif Mardin. “Together, we created career-defining moments with hits like ‘I’m Every Woman,’ as well as special songs like ‘Roll Me Through the Rushes’ and ‘Some Love.’ Now that the music has been beautifully remastered, I’m thrilled to share it with new generations. Each note carries a piece of my heart, and I hope it finds a special place in yours.”

Stay tuned for more Chaka Khan reissues coming later this year, including Naughty and What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me.

CHAKA

Track Listing

1. “I’m Every Woman”
2. “Love Has Fallen On Me”
3. “Roll Me Through The Rushes”
4. “Sleep On It”
5. “Life Is A Dance”
6. “We Got The Love”
7. “Some Love”
8. “A Woman In A Man’s World”
9. “The Message In The Middle Of The Bottom”
10. “I Was Made To Love Him”