The Adam Lambert Demos – Curiouser and Curiouser
There’s quite a lively debate going on in Headlines today about statements Hi-Fi CEO John Hecker made regarding the set of pre-Idol Adam Lambert recordings his label in partnership with Wilshire Records, plans to release this summer.
His statements insinuate that the recordings are full-fledged songs that have Adam’s blessing:
Lambert’s first single, “Want,” is streaming now on the Hi Fi Recordings official website, and according to the company’s CEO John Hecker, the rest of the tracks will sound similar. “The music’s amazing,” says Hecker. “There are some uptempo [songs], there’s some that rock a little more, and there are some songs on the same tip as “Want.” It’s a real album that’s coming out, not just a conglomerate of a bunch of songs. This is all original material — as a matter of fact, Adam wrote a lot of it.”
According to Hi Fi, Lambert co-wrote the material that will appear on the album and even made a trip to the Wilshire Records studio in Los Angeles as recently as May 2009 to hear it. “He was in the Wilshire Records studio right before the finale actually, and he was blown away by the material.”
Adam visited the Hi-Fi offices right before the finale? Really? Adam has released a statement disavowing the recordings, and it’s hard to imagine him making time to visit a the offices of a rinky-dink label at such a crucial time in his career–and with a major label deal nearly in hand. And he blessed the recordings? Very strange.
Also, after listening to “Want” I didn’t need Adam telling me it was a demo–the crapola production values screamed “demo” to me, despite, according to Hecker, featuring additional production by Mark Endert, a guy who had a hand in several Hot 100 hits. If the rest of the album sounds like the single, as Hecker claims, I have to wonder if they’re all demos.
The other weird thing is Hecker’s claim that Adam co-wrote some of the songs. It’s possible Wilshire Records, the outfit that approached Hecker with the material back in January ‘09, either got their hand on demos of songs Adam co-wrote or were responsible for recording them. Adam has been in LA for 10 years trying to make it. It’s not hard to imagine he’s got enough recorded material floating around out there to make an album.
And when Hecker says he’s got the legal right to release this material, I believe him–it’s not unusual for artists to sign their rights away at hungrier and less savvy times of their careers. If Adam stands to profit from this financially–and Hecker claims he does, though he won’t disclose details–it’s likely a minuscule cut.
The album will be released, but the label will be hampered in their efforts to promote it. Radio won’t touch this crap, and Adam won’t be available to promote it. So, they’ll sell a few copies, but it won’t make a huge impact. Though, I think it sucks that this early material will be released ahead of his real debut. It will confuse some folks who might think it’s the real deal, and it’s just the principal of the thing. But, it’ll blow over. In the end, it won’t impact Adam’s career in a major way.
While Hecker’s statements sound dubious I have to give his company credit. They did a kick-ass job on Melinda Doolittle’s debut. I hope the controversy leaves her unscathed.
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187 Responses to “The Adam Lambert Demos – Curiouser and Curiouser”
Oh yeah, totally. I believe I started my speculative diatribe
by “assuming” what we’ve been told so far is true. Just putting puzzle pieces together in some arguably logical form. But, yeah, it’s all just speculation at this point. Completely.
Wi Fi sent out mp3’s. People are going to know about it. Perez or his contacts aren’t the only ones to know about it. Best for all the info to get out. Perez actually has been doing Adam a lot of favors recently.
Look, Adam knows about all the recordings he’s done. He’s talked about them with 19. They know what to look out for. Everyone has old recordings and nobody judged them by it. Is anyone going to judge Kris, or Matt, or Cook by their previous recordings which were and are all over the place? No! This will just be a blimp. Thank goodness for people like Perez and E! who get the word out that this is just another old demo work like so many of the Idols before him.
RCA/19 could create several counterbalancing Adam brand products this summer if HiFi/Wilshire proceed with a web release of junky demos. They don’t have to be ready with the new single. Though it seems like they’re attempting to have that option available.
But the tour is going to produce many Adam moments. Unauthorized, free web videos of Adam’s Bowie medley would be more “Real Adam” than the demos. And create much excitement for the upcoming real album. And if they can get clearance, they could also release iTunes paid downloads on that, compiled from a few nights recording. Like on the nights when they’re doing Kris’ season pass.
They could also add an Adam “mini pass”.
Couple of charity or TV performances could also be wedged in the schedule.
If the demo fake album is released, RCA will treat us to new Adam material.
Sunn, you said it best. I have been worried about this too much and should just trust that things work out the way they should. It’s tough being an Adam fan with all the shots taken against him, but all the good stuff definitely outweighs the bad (by an enormous margin). So I’m just going to try and sit back and love the roller coaster ride listening to some great music while I am doing it.
Perez latest comment after posting Hifi’s press release:
“Sounds to us like this guy just wants to ca$h in on the Glambert’s recent rise to fame! Smart!”
My comment: Wonder why Perez now refers to Adam as “Glambert”?
I love how Adam is including this friends for his debut album. He is very loyal and generous.
Want is on youtube (or course it is!) and you can download it “illegally.” I NEVER do that, except this time. b/c I actually like the track and want every bloody piece of music Adam has ever recorded. I just don’t want Hi-Fi to benefit from these tracks, not one cent.
And as always, Sunn is the voice of reason. Adam’s handlers will find a way to deal with all of this, Adam will continue to be super popular and produce amazing music, and life will go on.
Want is sort of like the anti-No Boundaries, which had too many lyrics. Want doesn’t have many.
SUNN! if adam covered anything by incubus i would DIE. they have been my favorite band for almost 10 years and i think he could do any of their songs. when people were talking about him doing a mix of rock and ballads i immediately thought of them. they have done that forever.
…must calm down.
I think Perez created a big problem by originally putting this out as THE new single from Adam. Everyone picked up on that and it caused massive confusion. Yes, he corrected it eventually but if he had paused for a half a second and done a little homework a lot of the craziness that started about this could have been avoided.
Naturally Perez thinks it’s smart… since he’s been doing the same damn thing. LOL
Chris Daughtry wrote songs for his album while on tour and started recording while on tour. The album was recorded August 2006-September 2006 in Atlanta, GA. The album was released on November 21, 2006.
Adam only has to lay down the vocals. The music part will be worked on by non-touring musicians and recording studios are open 24/7 with people working in shifts at times to lay down music. Then another person does the mixing once the vocals are laid down. It isn’t more or less complicated for Adam’s music than for any other artist.
Sounds like a guy after Perez’s fame-whoring opportunistic heart. :dry_tb: