Magic historian and sleight-of-hand master Ricky Jay has compiled a terrific new CD of songs bet, called, and won at the card table in Ricky Jay Plays Poker. In stores this week on the Octone/Legacy imprint, the 21 tracks are all dealer's choice, from Bob Dylan's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Willie" and Robert Johnson's "Little Queen of Spades" to Tex Williams' honky-tonk swing of "Wild Card" and the soul power of O.V. Wright's "Ace of Spades." A pair of classics receive the two-of-a-kind treatment, with the 1914 recording of "Darktown Poker Club" from Bert Williams and Phil "Baloo the Bear" Harris' later upbeat, groovy rendition, and "Ace In the Hole" by both Anita O'Day and Dave Van Ronk. I'm all-in for two oddball selections: "Five Card Stud" by the golden-voiced actor Lorne Green, and the minute and a half of musical tension and sampled movie dialogue in "Etienne Gonna Die" by Saint Etienne. Proving he's undoubtedly the most dangerous man in the room, a DVD in the "deluxe edition" puts Jay at the green felt with a few Hollywood friends, telling stories, breaking down poker psychology, and blowing minds from two feet away. Who needs a handgun when you can throw playing cards like an Army sniper? And don't ever, ever let him deal.
Hot on the heels of Devo's "2.0" preteen-friendly subversive shenanigans, Go Kart Records is storming the playground next week with junior's first introduction to The Ramones, ready to rock that upcoming pep assembly with Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids. Mom and Dad, set 'em in the right direction with this 1-2-3-4 bus-stop blitzkrieg. Featuring the chipper backing voices of the Gabba Gabba Hey Singers, these kid-crazy covers sport a middle-school yearbook full of special guest vocalists, sure to bring a tear to the eye of many a grizzled punk parent, including Blag Dahila of The Dwarves, Jack Grisham of T.S.O.L., Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks, and "Johnny Are You Queer?" diva Josie Cotton. Proceeds from the CD benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman adds up +44 this evening; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Chris Cornell on Monday and Jerry Lee Lewis & Kid Rock on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Tenacious D this evening overnight, Damien Rice on Friday overnight and Robyn Hitchcock on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson serves Ice-T on Friday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly is Taking Back Sunday on Thursday overnight; and Austin City Limits' musical guest this weekend is Van Morrison.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, November 21:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Antimc - It's Free, But It's Not Cheap (Mush) laptop hip-hop with guests Busdriver, Saafir, and Cadence Weapon
Tim Barry - Rivanna Junction (Suburban Home) ballsy, somber, unrepentant storytelling folk from the gritty side of the tracks
Beatles - LOVE (Capitol) soundtrack to the new Cirque du Soleil production, mixed by George and Giles Martin
The Black Crowes - Soul Singin': The Best of Instant Live '05-'06 (Instant Live) four-CD box set available in a deluxe limited edition featuring a guitar pick and "all access" laminate
Johnny Cash - The Legend Of Johnny Cash Vol. 2 (UMe) 20-track compilation featuring an orchestral version of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on a Wire" and six selections from his sessions with producer Rick Rubin
Crowded House - Farewell to the World: 10th Anniversary Edition (Parlophone) two-CD or DVD set, recorded in Sydney before 120,000 fans
Chris Daughtry - Daughtry (RCA) post-American Idol debut with songs co-written with Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down and Rob Thomas of matchbox 20
The Doors - Perception (Rhino) CD box set collecting remastered editions of the band's first six albums, packed with rarities and a bonus DVD
Great Big Sea - Courage & Patience & Grit: In Concert (Zoe/Rounder) CD and DVD set
John Wesley Harding & Friends - A Bloody Show: Live at Bumbershoot 2005 (Arcanum) DVD featuring Robyn Hitchcock as narrator, with guests Kelly Hogan and Scott McCaughey; look for a bonus CD of acoustic demos in a numbered first edition of 5,000 copies
History Boys - original motion picture soundtrack (Rhino) with The Clash, Aztec Camera, New Order, and Pigbag's 12-inch workout of "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag"
Jools Holland - Moving Out of the Country (Radar) import-only new album backed by his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, with guests Solomon Burke, Lulu, KT Tunstall, Tom Jones, Mark Knopfler, India.Arie, and Brian Eno
Hybrid - I Choose Noise (Distinct'ive) highly anticipated electronica wonderland from the DJ duo, in lush collaboration with Perry Farrell and Peter Distephano of Porno for Pyros, Kirsty Hawkshaw of Opus III, and Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams
Jay-Z - Kingdom Come (Rock-A-Fella) with featured producers Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, and Coldplay's Chris Martin
Kottonmouth Kings - Hidden Stash III (Suburban Noize) two-CD and bonus-DVD set
The Manges - Go Down (Suburban Home) featuring the group's wild punk-rock cover of Susanne Vega's "When Heroes Go Down"
Mirah - Joyride: Remixes (K Records) two-CD set
National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj - original motion picture soundtrack (Eleven Seven) with music by Buckcherry and Everclear, and an exclusive song by The Exies
New York Dolls - From Here to Eternity: The Live Bootleg Box Set (Castle/Sanctuary) three CDs featuring rare radio broadcasts from 1973 and 1974
Nine Horses - Money for All (Samadhisound/Inner Knot) new CD EP from David Sylvain, Steve Jensen, and Burnt Friedman
999 - 999 (Captain Oi!) remastered CD reissue of this four-star punk gem from 1977, featuring bonus tracks and a pictorial history of internationally released record sleeves
Oasis - Stop the Clocks (Epic) B sides and best-of compilation, also available in a special deluxe edition with a bonus DVD
Robert Plant - Nine Lives (Rhino) nine-CD box set collecting expanded editions of all his solo albums, featuring a cover of Bob Marley's "Lively Up Yourself" and a bonus DVD
Rock Star Supernova - Supernova (Epic) the fruits of the CBS reality show with anointed vocalist Lukas Rossi
The Scumfrog - Mega Scum 01 (Effin) serving up nonstop beats from Astro & Glyde, Chab, and Minilogue
Snoop Dogg - The Blue Carpet Treatment (Doggystyle/Geffen) with guests Stevie Wonder and Brandy
Sojorn - When the Lights Go Down (Progressive Global) ultra-smooth, sexy, catchy grooves from this smart Nashville duo, sounding straight out of London's club scene
Spock's Beard - Spock's Beard (Inside Out) the band's ninth studio album
Swan Lake - Beast Moans (Jagjaguwar) jangly, fractured freak-pop debut featuring members of Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, and New Pornographers
Two Gallants - The Thrones (Alive Records) special twin-vinyl gatefold-LP edition, featuring a bonus track
U2 - 18 Singles (Interscope) best-of collection featuring a new song recorded last month with Green Day
Jimmy van M - Balance 010 (EQ Recordings) three-CD mix separated into down-tempo, mid-tempo and up-tempo discs with tracks from Bill Laswell, Cocteau Twins, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, and Saint Etienne
Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, & Bastards (Anti) three-CD set with guests Les Claypool, Charlie Musselwhite, and Marc Ribot
Winger - IV (Shrapnel) featuring patriotic CD cover art by comic-book artist Ethan Van Sciver
Woolly Wolstenholme - Maestoso (Eclectic) reissue of this 1980 solo album from the Barclay James Harvest co-founder, overflowing with mellotron and four bonus tracks recorded live in Vienna
