PRETTY POISON'S JADE STARLING TO RELEASE 'CAPTIVE'

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. Harding

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Jade Starling

JADE GLORY --- Remember that song “Catch Me I’m Falling” by Pretty Poison from 1987? Well, one-half of that very talented aggregation, Jade Starling, has just released her first solo album, Captive (out August 12) and it’s a certified smash; from the first single “Insomniak” to the new, just-released follow up “Think About U.”

In talking with her this week exclusively for TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP  (and, I believe I may well have actually met her back in the day), I asked her what she had been up to since 1987. “We've put out several different releases since then, but the promotion and marketing wasn't where it should have been.” The new album, released via Subpoena/Universal, seems not only to be of the highest quality, but is certainly being set up properly too.

The video for this first single was sensational; vivid imagery set against the EDM-aura of the song. Jade says that when Pretty Poison was introduced, the phrase EDM wasn't really in vogue. “It’s funny, when Pretty Poison was around, the term EDM didn't exist, now, we're sort of doing the same thing and we fit squarely into the EDM mode.”

Still working with producer/collaborator Whey Cooler, the album is just spectacular with high marks for its creativity and exemplary songwriting. “To me, good hooks and good music is essential,” she says. Jade adds that “Catch Me” is still very much in vogue – it was featured on one of the final episodes of Breaking Bad and she’s still amazed by how many people tell her, they just downloaded it. The song was #47 of VH1’s list of One Hit Wonders … but, it’s a great list to even be included on.

She credits social media with giving her a particular edge up with her fans; finding them more immediately than ever before. “Face it, social media, using it the right way, is a tremendous tool … for finding that fan base and communicating with them. It’s a great tool.”

Good music and talented artists always find their way; Jade Starling has and is doing it all over again. One of the superior releases of 2014.

Also, as an added plus, check out photographer’s Gretchen Johnson’s vivid imagery on the album cover and booklet inside. “She captured exactly what I was doing and was a great addition to the whole project.”

PLANE, TRAINS and ERIC --- On November 4, 2014, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Planes, Trains and Eric by Eric Clapton on DVD and Blu-ray. This is an intimate film documenting life on the road during part of his 2014 tour inter cut with superb full-length performances. The film features many classic tracks including: “Layla,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “Cocaine,” “Tears In Heaven,” “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Crossroads” and more.

Planes, Trains and Eric follows Eric Clapton and his band on the Far and Middle Eastern leg of his 2014 World Tour. The film features 13 full-length performances blended with interviews with Clapton and the band members, rehearsal and sound check footage, travel by trains and planes, presentations and “fly on the wall” filming of all the many aspects of being on the road with Eric Clapton.

Eric Clapton is one of the most revered and influential guitarists of all time. From his early days with the Yardbirds, through John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek And The Dominos and on to his solo career he has had consistent critical and commercial success.

The lineup of the band featured on the film is Clapton (guitar & vocals); Steve Gadd (drums); Paul Carrack (Hammond & vocals); Nathan East (bass & vocals); Chris Stainton (keyboards); Michelle John (backing vocals); Shar White (backing vocals).

Can't wait for this one.

THE KNICK --- Milan Records will release THE KNICK – Original Television Soundtrack digitally on August 19, followed by a physical CD release on Tuesday, September 16. The album, which will also be released on vinyl later in the year, features original music by composer Cliff Martinez (Drive, Spring Breakers), a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“Working on a TV series was a round-the-clock-for-10-weeks endeavor for me. Lots of coffee...not so much sleep,” said Martinez of his first real foray into composing for an episodic television series. The composer, who previously scored one episode of Pee Wee’s Playhouse, joked about his approach. “There's nothing like a 10-hour series to help you squeeze the maximum mileage out of all your musical themes!”

Set in New York City in 1900, this new Cinemax drama series from Academy Award and Emmy-winning director Steven Soderbergh centers on the Knickerbocker Hospital and the groundbreaking surgeons, nurses and staff who push the boundaries of medicine in a time of astonishingly high mortality rates and zero antibiotics.

The newly appointed leader of the surgery staff is the brilliant, arrogant renegade Dr. John Thackery (Academy Award nominee Clive Owen), whose addiction to cocaine and opium is trumped only by his ambition for medical discovery and renown among his peers. Soderbergh directs all 10 episodes of the series' first season.

“As usual, Steven and I rarely spoke and instead communicated via mental telepathy,” said Martinez. “In so many words he told me: We're all going to recreate early 1900's New York as authentically as possible...except for you. I want the music to be modern and electronic.”

"For The Knick, I revisited a time-honored Soderbergh/Martinez tradition that I like to call ‘one thing,’” Martinez added. “I try very hard to score an entire scene using only one sound or instrument. It's difficult and I usually end up cheating and using more. But by limiting the number of elements, I'm always guaranteed an expressively minimalist and fat-free soundtrack."

CLOSING NOTES --- Great Scott Shannon-interview with The Brady Bunch's Barry Williams this week. Jodi Blau Ritzen's Brady Bunch convention is next week. Check it out HERE ...

There was a story last week about the much anticipated Ghostbusters re-boot and the fact, that it should feature the three main characters re-born as women. The story seems to be gaining traction and you know, it could well happen. My question: what part would Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd play? ...

SIGHTINGS: Producer Mike Ciraldo and PR-pasha David Salidor at Palm West last night; Micky Dolenz at ACME Comedy in LA watching daughter Georgia perform with her group We're Having A Panic Attack

From Variety: Despite the fact that Netflix subscribers are well aware of them, less than half have actually watched House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black ...

Marvel has claimed the first victory in the great superhero film war of 2016. Warner Bros just announced that they've moved up the release of the eagerly anticipated Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice from May of that year to March 25. The (unspoken) reason: the studio doesn't want to go up against Marvel’s big film of that summer, Captain America 3, which is set to be released on May 6.

While one would think that the sequel to Zach Snyder’s mega-successful Man of Steel (and the first chance to see Ben Affleck play Batman) would be the most anticipated blockbuster of 2016, but, the Avengers family of films have proven to be financial juggernauts of their own.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the second film in the characters solo arc, brought in over $700 million globally earlier this year.

Photo Courtesy Of: Randex PR