UPDATE: Apparently J Records is leaving open the possibility that they’ll work with Taylor Hicks in the future. From the EW Hollywood Insider post on Katharine McPhee:
“…a rep for the RCA Music Group (which includes Arista, RCA, and J Records) tells Insider, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“After six seasons, we are proud of the eight artists on the roster who started their careers on the show. With respect to Taylor, we have an understanding that he will come back to us to play music once heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s finished writing his new material.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬
From Taylor Hicks’s MySpace:
A statement from Taylor: To all my fans and The Soul Patrol, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent news that my label and I have mutually parted ways. The important thing for all of you to remember is that I’ve been a working musician my whole life. This is turning the page on a new chapter of my career. Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect. The things that are most important to me is creating my art, performing it, and my fans. With the momentum that all of you have created over the years, Taylor Hicks is not going to stop anytime soon. I’ve started working on the new album, writing and scheduling exciting collaborations. The DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, is in it’s final stages, and will be released soon. So as one door closes, a new one opens for 2008 with more excitement for all my fans than ever before. Sit tight, because the best is yet to come!
I hope he finds a decent label or distribution deal soon. It can be an uphill battle to go independent…
More articles: from AL.com and The NY Times.
Purps, IF I had never heard anything else that Taylor had done, IF I didnt know how capable he is of taking me to church (a now much overused phrase of mine) then perhaps I would look at that CD a little differently. I will never know the answer to that question.
His forte will always be in the visual, live arena for me.
With respect to Taylor, we have an understanding that he will come back to us to play music once heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s finished writing his new material.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬
I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for this to happen. JRecords and Taylor both agreed to this and he will do much better without JRecords and Clive because they never supported or promoted Taylor Hicks anyway. WAY TO GO, TAYLOR..
Ah Purps….you have been bitten by the bug…….and Dingo, make sure you get his DVD….you, my friend, will LOVE it! (I didn’t know if you saw my previous post to you……I usually don’t repeat myself…oh Hell, I am lying…I repeat all the time!) :smiley2_tb: Pix
New cut from “Whomp at the Warfield” DVD playing at Myspace. “The Maze” Hot! Hot! Hot! harp, sax and that voice.
http://www.myspace.com/taylorhicks
For my money, he’s the most unique talent that show has ever and probably will ever see.
And he’s laughably better live than anybody whose ever been on the show.
Dingo:
I know you didn’t expect Taylor to record those songs. I guess it just unsettles me a little when I hear someone talk about specific expectations for Taylor. He is, after all, the guy who all his life has, like a true maverick, been doing things his own way. The only expectations I want him to meet are his own.
And I’m not sure that Taylor’s live performance style can even be satisfactorily captured on CD. A studio album will perhaps always sound like Taylor on a leash, for want of a better analogy.
Just let him do what he thinks is best. Without interference, he’ll produce some great music. And if he doesn’t take you to church on the CD itself, my guess is that his performances of the music will.
I like Taylor’s post Idol CD, but Heaven Knows (live) and The Maze (live) that are now on Taylor’s MySpace blow the CD versions out of the water! I LOVE these versions – this is more the true Taylor we love!!!!!!!