I Can't Believe I Didn't See This...New HLN Album Coming Out Nov 2!

I hadn't stopped by the front page of HLN.org recently. I went this morning for a little "pick me up" and came across this from Deb P:

HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS HEAD TO 'SOULSVILLE' FOR NEW ALBUM OUT NOV 2
Grammy-Winners Pay Tribute to Memphis Soul on First Album in Nine Years

Posted by debP, HLN Today Co-Editor

Official Press Release

17 August 2010: Grammy-winners Huey Lewis and The News have confirmed the November 2 release of 'Soulsville,' their first album in nine years, to be released on W.O.W. Records. Recorded at historic Ardent Studios in Memphis, the album features 14 classic songs from the vault of Stax Records, including “Respect Yourself” and “Got To Get You Off My Mind”. Considered to be the preeminent soul music label in America, Stax was home to artists like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Booker T & The MG’s, and Isaac Hayes, and produced an astounding number of hit records throughout the 1960’s & 70’s. Ably paying tribute to the rich Stax legacy, Huey Lewis and The News, joined by their long time horn section, capture the energy and excitement of this important era.

'Soulsville' re-unites Huey Lewis and the News with co-producer Jim Gaines ('Sports,' 'Fore!') who worked at the Stax studios as a young man and was involved in many of the label's original recordings.

“We’re especially proud of the collection.” says Lewis, who has been previewing material from the album while on a critically acclaimed summer tour. “There should be a number of surprises for everyone.”

Formed from two rival Bay Area bands in 1979, Huey Lewis and The News play a brand of straight-ahead rock and roll that has outlasted countless trends, selling over 20 million albums and earning Grammy Awards along the way. The group still performs around 100 shows a year. Lewis has enjoyed recent success on screen and stage as well, acting on the hit television show “Hot in Cleveland”, and performing in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Chicago”.

The tracks on Soulsville will be:
Don’t Fight It
Got To Get You Off My Mind
Free
Respect Yourself
Cry To Me
Just One More Day
Never Found a Girl
Soulsville
Little Sally Walker
I Want To (Do Everything For You)
Just The One (I’ve Been Looking For)
Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You
Never Like This Before
Grab This Thing

I knew that this album was in the works but had no idea that a release date had FINALLY been set. This album will be similar in concept to 1994's Four Chords and Several Years Ago, another collection of old tunes that the band covered. That CD included "(She's) Some Kind of Wonderful" and "But It's Alright", both having some success and earning acclaim in the band's catalog. At the same time, the band had already entered the depths of Adult Contemporary Hell.

Look, I get the deal here. Huey Lewis and the News know that their chart success is in the distant past. For the most part, they're a touring band that still draws well and puts on a great show (though I couldn't tell you, because it's been five freaking years since I saw them, and I blew TWO chances to see them this summer). Without the proper promotion (W.O.W. Records?), radio station support and such, it's difficult to get the notice. Fans are fickle.

Hard core fans are not.

And so, it will be on my calendar. Soulsville will jump into my collection around November 2nd. Even if I have to take up a collection to get it.