John Mellencamp's eagerly anticipated new album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom, produced by T Bone Burnett, was released on July 15, 2008 by Hear Music at Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as traditional music retail. The album is the very first ever release employing the ΧΟΔΕ (CODE) format, developed by Burnett and his team, offering high resolution audio playable through any DVD player. All copies are packaged with a standard CD at no additional charge. Hear Music is also releasing the album on vinyl, as well, to address the analog renaissance.
1. Longest Days
2. My Sweet Love
3. If I Die Sudden
4. Troubled Land
5. Young Without Lovers
6. John Cockers
7. Don't Need This Body
8. A Ride Back Home
9. Without A Shot
10. Jena
11. Mean
12. County Fair
13. For The Children
14. A Brand New Song
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John's new LIVE
album Life Death LIVE and Freedom is now in stores! The album features live versions of
tracks from John's 2008 album Life Death Love and
Freedom recorded during John's 2008 tour. Read below for more details.
The special low-priced offering from Concord / Hear Music is available at all retail and digital outlets! The CD version is available online at Amazon.com (for $6.99) and is available for digital download at iTunes ($6.93) and Amazon.com ($5.86).
A special "Deluxe Edition" that includes both the original studio album Life Death Love And Freedom bundled with the new Life Death LIVE And Freedom is also available. The Deluxe Edition double CD package is available online at Amazon.com ($14.99) and is available for digital download from iTunes ($13.99) and Amazon.com ($13.99).
ALBUM PRESS RELEASE
Specially priced 8-song live collection also available as ‘Deluxe Tour Pack’
bundled with 2008’s original studio album
Life Death LIVE and Freedom, an 8-song live companion collection
featuring many of the key songs from John Mellencamp’s 2008 much-lauded Life
Death Love and Freedom, is set for release June 23. The specially-priced
offering from Hear Music will be available at all retail and digital outlets. In
recognition of Mellencamp’s upcoming tour with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, a
special “Deluxe Tour Pack” edition that includes both original studio
album Life Death Love and Freedom bundled with the new Life Death LIVE
and Freedom will also be available on June 23rd, wherever music is sold.
While the Life Death Love and Freedom studio album was in various stages
of production under the direction of T Bone Burnett, Mellencamp endeavored to
“road test” the album’s songs long before its release. Over the course of almost
a year, Mellencamp – variously as a soloist and with his band -- introduced
concert goers to the new material, an unusual move for an artist who is
identified with such a well-known body of prior work. The new music blended
beautifully with his classic repertoire and was incredibly well received,
something significant in light of the serious themes and the overall tone of
many of the new songs. Theses songs were highlights of Mellencamp’s concerts as
they spoke directly to the country about where we were and where we were headed.
They include the driving, blues-rooted “If I Die Sudden,” the politically
charged “Jena” and the poignant “A Ride Back Home”, who’s studio incarnation as
a duet with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, is Mellencamp’s latest single and
video release. Also part of Life Death LIVE and Freedom are the
ominous “Troubled Land,” which chronicles the malaise that gripped the country
during the Bush years and the contemplative “Longest Days,” inspired by
Mellencamp’s late grandmother. “Young Without Lovers” (with audience
participation), the rollicking “My Sweet Love” and the folk-styled “Don’t Need
This Body” complete the LIVE line-up.
The collection reflects the way the songs were heard by audiences for the very
first time as Mellencamp assiduously adhered to a doctrine of “audio vérité.”
Concert tracks, sourced directly from the mixing board, were not subject to
after-the-fact studio enhancement, overdubbing, etc, and, as a result, offer a
view of Mellencamp as both songwriter and communicator, on an elemental, truly
accessible level. While Mellencamp’s touring band – Andy York (guitar), Dane
Clark (drums), John Gunnell (bass), Miriam Sturm (violin), Troye Kinnett
(accordion/keyboard) and Mike Wanchic (guitar) are heard on both the studio and
live sets, there is a markedly discernable difference in terms of approach,
intensity and tempo which transforms these live versions into something wholly
unique and extraordinary. Wanchic, part of Mellencamp’s band for over 30 years
is co-producer of Life Death LIVE and Freedom with John Mellencamp.
Engineer Bill Chappell recorded the songs live in concert over the course of six
months of tour dates through North America.
Life Death LIVE and Freedom track listing:
1. If I Die Sudden
2. Troubled Land
3. Don’t Need This Body
4. Longest Days
5. Young Without Lovers
6. A Ride Back Home
7. Jena
8. My Sweet Love
LINER NOTES FOR Life Death LIVE and Freedom
Long before the release of the album that would eventually be titled Life
Death Love and Freedom, John Mellencamp debuted songs from that then
work-in-progress for audiences all over North America. It was an unusual
move for an artist whose body of work was so well known and revered, but as
John will tell you, he’s never one to look back all that much. What’s in the
past stays there; we can only deal with now if we’re to have some kind of
impact on the future.
By the fall of 2007, with T Bone Burnett producing, he had recorded most of
the tracks for his new album and then proceeded to road test them with any
and every audience he would encounter. John characterized these new songs as
being in the tradition of the American songbook. They would only live if
they were played for real people.
The songs themselves were stark, elemental and to the point, the antithesis
of the pop ditties and bombastic neo-rock fodder that is the order of the
day in contemporary music. In many ways, they represented the latest
iteration of the continuum that began in 1985 with the release of his
Scarecrow album, the groundbreaking work that foretold the
roots/Americana/No Depression movement that would become a codified genre
more than a dozen years later.
He kicked things off at Farm Aid 2007 on September 9th of that year, when he
audaciously opened his set with “Troubled Land,” a brand new song performed
in front of a massive audience. The song that addresses the American malaise
so evocatively went over with the politically aware and socially conscious
audience like gangbusters. He also performed a driving version of “If I Die
Sudden” that was equally riveting despite the crowd’s unfamiliarity.
Less than one month later he felt compelled to post “Jena” on mellencamp.com
even before the album was completed. The song is a piece of troubadour-style
poetic reportage, chronicling the issues that faced the Louisiana town where
racial tensions had recently flared and nooses were found in school yard
trees. Jena’s Mayor Murphy R. McMillin wrote that the “Jena” song and video
were "so inflammatory, so defamatory, that a line has been crossed and
enough is enough." Within just three days of the posting, Mellencamp
performed it at San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival on
October 5th and another huge audience heard and positively responded to more
unreleased material from an album that didn’t have a title, let alone a
release date.
Later that fall, starting in Terre Haute on October 26th in his native
Indiana, Mellencamp and his band set off on a 40-city North American tour
that found him playing an 18-song set each night. Typically, five of those
songs were unreleased and, hence, unknown to the audience. He boldly
performed “Troubled Land,” “If I Die Sudden” and “Jena” back-to-back and
most often, even in the nose bleed seats, you could hear a pin drop. He led
the audience in a sing-along to the solo acoustic “Young Without Lovers”
with enthusiastic participation night after night – no mean feat for a rock
audience out to hear the hits. Also rendered solo was “A Ride Back Home,”
certainly not anticipated fare for the concert-going crowd but very much
appreciated. It was an enlightening experience for both audience and
performer at just about every show.
Numerous times, he performed “Longest Days,” evoking the special
relationship he had with his late grandmother and, on occasion, the ethereal
“Don’t Need This Body,” challenging audiences to contemplate mortality.
Only months into the tour, did audiences have some passing familiarity with
at least one new song: “My Sweet Love.” The video featuring duet partner
Karen Fairchild had picked up some exposure. Karen is, in fact, also heard
on “A Ride Back Home” that is one of the highlights of the Life Death Love
and Freedom studio album.
These live versions of Life Death Love and Freedom songs serve to underscore
their connection with the human experience. In recognition of that, the
songs are presented here just as they were performed: no overdubs or studio
enhancements of any kind were added. They come direct from the soundboard to
your ears. Songs are organic and, metaphysically speaking, they need air;
the best ones touch your soul on some level. These did just that for
hundreds of thousands who attended John’s concerts, both before and after
the album’s release.
Written by
Bob Merlis
READ THE REVIEWS OF "LIVE"
Click HERE to
order Life, Death, LIVE and Freedom
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Listen to Life Death LIVE and Freedom Online
Listen to the entire Life Death LIVE and Freedom album via these links:
Windows Media Audio Steam
Quicktime Audio Stream
John Mellencamp's MySpace Page
Post your thoughts about the album on the Mellencamp
MESSAGE BOARD.
Life, Death, Love and Freedom Vinyl Released!
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Life, Death, Love and Freedom E-card!
Looking for a one stop place to send your friends and family to learn about the album, share the listening of the full album and find links to John's key websites? Send them over to check out the LDL&F e-card! There is a send to friend function on the e-card, try it out today!
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Promote Life, Death, Live and Freedom on YOUR Website!
Do you have a website? A social network page (MySpace/Facebook/Imeem/YouTube etc.)? Then consider posting one of our promo banners for John's new album on your page! Click HERE to check out the promo banners. For other banners, Mellencamp images and album information Click HERE
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Life, Death, Love and Freedom Debuts on Billboard Album Charts at #7!
John's new critically-acclaimed album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom debuts on the Billboard Top 200 album charts at #7 with approximately 56,000 copies sold!
The album follows up last year's JM album Freedom's Road which sold an equal amount of copies in the first week and also debuted in the top 10! Life, Death, Love and Freedom is John's 2nd consecutive album, and 9th total, to go Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200. John's career includes 19 albums that have charted!
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Life, Death, Love and Freedom a Groundbreaking Audio Release
Not only is John's new album notable and groundbreaking for the songwriting and musical content, it is equally acclaimed for being groundbreaking in terms of the music technology utilized. The release marks a high point for the music industry in the amount of options an artist provides to their fans to listen to their album for the standard price of a single CD.
> LEARN MORE
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A Ride Back Home Official Video
John's official A Ride Back Home video filmed at the Beck Chapel on the IU Campus off of his Life, Death, Love and Freedom album. Click HERE to watch the video.
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Troubled Land Official Video
John's official Troubled Land video filmed in Savannah, GA off of his Life, Death, Love and Freedom album. Directed by Martyn Atkins. Click HERE to watch the video.
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Check Out the NEW "My Sweet Love" Video on YouTube!
Check out the official "My Sweet Love" video; the first single from John's new album on YouTube.com. The video was recently filmed in Savannah, GA featuring Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town singing with John. Click HERE to watch the video.
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Check Out the Web Only "My Sweet Love" Video
"My Sweet Love," the first single from John's new album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom, in stores July 15th, has a new web-only video! Watch the web-only video now on YouTube! Be sure to rate it, leave a comment, share it with your friends and add it to your personal web page/blog/social networking site! While at YouTube, be sure to visit John's official YouTube page for lots of other fantastic Mellencamp clips to watch.
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"Jena" - Music Video
Here is what John has to say about "Jena:" "I am not a journalist, I am a songwriter and in the spirit and tradition of the minstrel, I am telling a story in this song.
The story is not, strictly speaking, about the town of Jena or this specific incident but of racism in America.
The song was not written as an indictment of the people of Jena but, rather, as a condemnation of racism, a problem which I've reflected in many songs, a problem that still plagues our country today."
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Check Out the Life, Death, Love and Freedom Documentary
Concord records has posted the an excerpt of the Life, Death, Love and Freedom documentary for all to see on YouTube.com. This video is an excerpt from a larger, forthcoming piece directed by Matt Robertson. Matt is also the director of the "My Sweet Love" online video and our recent website tour clips. Click HERE to head over to YouTube to post your comments and rate the video.
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New Album Preview - Download "Longest Days" on VanityFair.com
John is offering a preview of his new album in the form of a FREE MP3 download of the album's first track, "Longest Days," through VanityFair.com. Click HERE to download "Longest Days."
> LEARN MORE
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CBS The Late Show with David Letterman Interview and Performance
John and band performed live on CBS's The Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, July 17th. John was interviewed by Dave during the first segment and then performed "Troubled Land" from his new album. Click HERE and HERE to watch the interview and performance.
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Later With Jools Holland Performance - "Longest Days"
John recently appeared on the UK TV program Later With Jools Holland. Click HERE to watch the video.
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Australian Interview with Molly Meldrum
John recently visited with famed Australian TV host Molly Meldrum and discussed his new album and upcoming Australian tour. Click HERE to watch the video.
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CBS Early Show Interview on YouTube!
John and band performed live, from Chicago, on CBS's The Early Show on Monday, July 21st. John was interviewed by Harry Smith about the new album. Click HERE to watch the video.
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Farm Aid 2008 - "Troubled Land"
John and the band perform Troubled Land Live at Farm Aid in Mansfield, MA on September 20, 2008. Click HERE to watch the video.
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Farm Aid 2008 - "If I Die Sudden"
John and the band perform If I Die Sudden Live at Farm Aid in Mansfield, MA on September 20, 2008. Click HERE to watch the video.
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"My Sweet Love" - The First Single
The first single from John's new album is the track "My Sweet Love"! Click play on the player at the top of this Mellencamp.com to listen NOW! "My Sweet Love" has been sent out to radio stations nationwide.
> LEARN MORE
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John Mellencamp to Release New Album
John Mellencamp's eagerly anticipated new album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom, produced by T Bone Burnett, will be released July 15 by Hear Music at Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as traditional music retail.
> READ THE PRESS RELEASE