New York, NY (Top40 Charts) With the first single from her forthcoming album KICKS already spinning at radio, RICKIE LEE JONES has now released a video for her unique interpretation of the 1970s
America hit "Lonely People." The singer, songwriter and musician directed the video-filmed in her adopted hometown of New Orleans-in which she presents various incarnations of herself in an array of costumes amid multiple backdrops.
"The video for 'Lonely People' reflects the humor and strength of a singer who entered the fun house through the 1979 superstar door and came out 40 years later with a far less serious view of Rickie Lee," she explains.
With the clip, she says, everyone needs to "make peace with the past incarnations of yourself. Don't live ashamed of who you were…celebrate who you are. That is me now. That is Kicks. The subversive smile in a time when anger is the mantra of the masses."
KICKS, due out June 7, album spans two decades (50s-70s) of pop, rock and jazz, presenting her unique and sophisticated interpretations of these songs. JONES' is that rare musician who has transcended the singer/songwriter mantle by incorporating different radio genres from the get-go and she continues that tradition on the forthcoming album. It is fitting that one of the American treasures of songwriters should be comfortable with this diverse collection of the great songwriters of the 20th century.
In an interview last week with BILLBOARD—which noted that "Rickie Lee Jones is a master of taking apart popular songs to see how they tick"-RICKIE LEE talked about the inception of the album. "Those threads exist in my mind side-by-side,' she tells Billboard about the unlikely connection between genres and decades on Kicks. 'I heard those songs at [the same] time in my life, and they're all planted in the same garden.'"
At radio, "Lonely People" is already garnering cross-country airplay with adds at KFMG-Des Moines, IA; KNBA-Anchorage, AK; KRCL-Salt Lake City, UT; KSUT-Durango, CO; KTBG-Kansas City, MO; WHRV-Norfolk, VA; WKZE-Red Hook NY; WUKY-Lexington, KY; WYCE-Grand Rapids, MI; WSGE-Dallas, NC ( Charlotte); WCLX-Burlington, VT; and WMVY-Martha's Vineyard, MA; and spins from KCSN-Los Angeles, CA; KRCB-Santa Rosa, CA; KRCL-Salt Lake City, UT; KUSH-Cushing, OK; KVMR-Nevada City CA; KXCI-Tucson, AZ; WDST-Woodstock NY; WFPK-Louisville, KY; WHRV-Norfolk, VA; WOUB-Athens, OH; WPYA-Birmingham, AL; WQKL-Ann Arbor, MI; WUKY-Lexington KY; WYEP-Pittsburgh, PA; and Americana
Boogie Radio (internet station).
KICKS was created entirely in New Orleans, using local musicians, mixers and studios. Produced by RICKIE LEE JONES with her band-mate, vibraphonist Mike Dillion, it features 10 songs of a highly infectious nature. Check out "Nagasaki," her traditional jazz offering of tight three-part harmonies, and "Bad Company," where JONES cuts loose on electric guitar.
The album cover, by artist Peregrine Honig, is a super-hero woman in boxing gloves. Sound like anyone we know? RICKIE LEE JONES, superhero, with a super weapon smile! "In times like these, "Miss Jones smiles, "a smile can be subversive. Here is Rickie Lee's musical smile."
Miss Jones' own label, OSOD (other side of desire), will release KICKS with Thirty Tigers distributing. A pre-order of the self-released album is available here, along with a variety of official KICKS merchandise including t-shirts, posters, totes and other items. In addition, fans can pre-order the album via traditional sites: All Retail; Spotify; iTunes, Apple and Amazon; all pre-orders receive the "Lonely People" instant grat track with the purchase of the pre-release of the album.
The KICKS track listing is as follows:
"
Bad Company" (Bad Company, 1974)
"My Fathers Gun" (Elton John, 1970)
"Lonely People" (America, 1974)
"Houston" (Sanford Clark, 1964; made famous by Dean Martin, 1965)
"
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" (Russ Morgan, 1944; made famous by Dean Martin, 1960/1964)
"Nagasaki" (Ipana Troubadours, 1928; most famous by Benny Goodman Quartet, 1952)
"
Mack The Knife" (Louis Armstrong, 1956; made famous by
Bobby Darin, 1958)
"Quicksilver Girl" (Steve Miller Band, 1968)
"
End Of The World" (Skeeter Davis, 1962)
"Cry" (Ruth Casey, 1951; made famous by Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads, 1951)
In support of the album, RICKIE LEE JONES will perform two shows in Japan before a run of U.S. dates. Her initial 2019 tour dates are as follows:
Thu 5/16 Osaka, JPN NHK Hall
Fri 5/17 Tokyo, JPN Orchard Hall
Sat 6/1 New Orleans, LA Tipitina's
Fri-Sun 6/7-6/9 Park City, UT The Egyptian Theatre
Tue-Wed 6/11 & 6/12 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
Fri 6/14 Denver, CO Venue TBA
Sun 6/16 Kansas City, KS Crossroads
Tue 6/18 Atlanta, GA The City Winery
Wed 6/19 Nashville, TN The City Winery
Fri 6/21 Dallas, TX The Kessler
Sat 6/22 Austin, TX The 04 Center
Sun 6/23 Houston, TX The Heights
Tue 6/25 Albuquerque, NM KiMo Theater
Wed 6/26 Phoenix, AZ MIM
Thu 6/27 San Diego, CA San
Diego State Fair
Thu 7/18 Berkeley, CA Freight & Salvage
Fri 7/19 Berkeley, CA Freight & Salvage
Sat 7/20 Marina Del Ray, CA Summer Series.
