Artist/Producer/Director and Eurythmics co-founder, Dave Stewart’s new album, The Blackbird Diaries is set to be released on Tuesday, June 28th 2011. Recently completed in Nashville, the album was produced by Dave Stewart and Mike Bradford and was recorded and mixed by John McBride at his famed Blackbird Studio. The Blackbird Diaries is set to feature all new material including a co-write with Bob Dylan as well as duets with Stevie Nicks, Martina McBride, Colbie Caillat and features The Secret Sisters. Dave is backed throughout the album by a stellar assortment of musicians on the album including guitarist Tom Bukovac, drummer Chad Cromwell, bassist Michael Rhodes, steel guitarist Dan Dugmore and Mike Rojas on piano. As an integral part of Stevie Nicks new album, “In Your Dreams,” (he was co-producer, co-writer, photographer, performer and movie director) Dave has been invited by Stevie as her special guest to perform at Webster Hall in New York City on May 4th.

Watch exclusive trailer about the upcoming companion film The Blackbird Diaries

mp3: Download free song “Magic In The Blues”

“This was my favorite time ever in the studio, I wrote most of the songs on the spot and recorded all of them in one incredible session lasting 5 days and nights!,”  explains Dave Stewart.  I made an unusual film of the process that not only features all the musicians and performers but also gives away some of my writing secrets which involves both a well known fortune teller and hypnotist who allowed themselves to be filmed in session with me.”

Dave Stewart’s The Blackbird Diaries is unlike anything he has embarked on during his illustrious 30 year music career both with Eurythmics and as a solo artist. With an American flare and rooted in rock, country, and blues, the album is in the vein of recent releases by Bob Dylan and Neil Young – masterful recordings mixed with rich and detailed lyrics.  The Blackbird Diaries showcases a very different type of songwriting for Stewart with more story-driven autobiographical lyrics, which is a departure from the pop/rock sounds which have made him one of the most successful and revered songwriters/collaborators of all time. Tales of loves conquered and loves lost, Dave gets intimate, personal with words while he allows his music to rock free on an album that might just prove to be this artist’s second, and perhaps finest, act.

A multi-media entrepreneur, Dave Stewart is recognized as one of the most respected and accomplished talents in the entertainment industry today.  His career spans more than 30 years and more than 100 million album sales, plus a Lifetime Achievement Award with Eurythmics partner Annie Lennox. With Lennox, Stewart delivered ingenious pop/rock hits such as “Here Comes The Rain Again,” “Would I Lie To You,” “Missionary Man,” and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”.  One of the most sought-after writers and music producers, Dave has crafted songs for and collaborated with the likes of Mick Jagger, Bono, Tom Petty, and Gwen Stefani (to name a few) and has shared the stage with everybody from BB King, U2, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. Stewart has won Best British Producer four times and Best British Songwriter five times, as well as numerous Grammy, MTV, and European awards.  A highly-regarded artist and filmmaker, Stewart has scored and penned the title songs for many hit movies throughout the years, including the Mick Jagger collaboration for the film Alfie, which won the pair a Golden Globe. He produced the award-winning documentary Deep Blues, and his feature directorial debut Honestpremiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000. Stewart and songwriter/producer Glen Ballard recently wrote a musical adaptation of the 1990 Jerry Zucker film Ghost, which opens in London’s West End in June this year. This Year Stewart also co-wrote and co-produced Joss Stone’s new album as well as Stevie Nicks’ new album “In Your Dreams” which marks the first occasion Nicks has ever collaborated on a solo album.

“We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Dave.  He is a legend who has been associated with all kinds of quality music for years and the Blackbird Diaries is an amazing accomplishment.  We will hunt and kill for him, adds Cliff Chenfeld, Co-Owner Razor & Tie.
Dave Stewart is the latest addition to join the leading independent label Razor & Tie and the diverse and acclaimed roster that includes such artists as Foreigner, Vanessa Carlton, Richard Ashcroft, Nicole Atkins, Angelique Kidjo, Dave Barnes, All That Remains, Norma Jean, Dweezil Zappa, Dar Williams, Chelsea Grin and The Summer Set.  The New York City-based label is one of the fastest growing independent record companies in the United States, and has garnered both Platinum sales and Grammy awards in its 20-year history.

The Blackbird Diaries Tracklisting:
1.     So Long Ago
2.     Beast Called Fame
3.     Magic In The Blues
4.     All Messed Up (featuring Martina McBride)
5.     Stevie Baby
6.     Cheaper Than Free (featuring Stevie Nicks)
7.     The Gypsy Girl and Me
8.     One Way Ticket To The Moon (featuring The Secret Sisters)
9.     Bulletproof Vest (featuring Colbie Caillat)
10.  Worth The Waiting For
11.  The Well
12.  Country Wine (featuring The Secret Sisters)

Produced by Dave Stewart and Mike Bradford
Mixed & Engineered by John McBride
Associate Producer: John McBride
Executive Producer: Dave Kaplan
Mixed and recorded at: Blackbird Studio, Nashville, TN

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Top 5 Music Countdown: Favorite Songs About a Little Town Called New York City!!

5.  “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down”
-LCD Soundsystem

4.  “Lovecraft in Brooklyn”
-The Mountain Goats (Aesop Rock Remix)

3.  “Downtown Train”
-Tom Waits

2.  “NYC”
-Interpol

1. “First We Take Manhattan”
-Leonard Cohen

Bonus round! 20 more New York-inspired songs for a longer, vitamin-fortified playlist!

“Walk on the Wild Side”
-Lou Reed

“Brooklyn Bound”
-The Black Keys

“Brooklyn”
-Mos Def

“The Long Island Sound”
-Beirut

“Where I’m From”
-Digable Planets

“What New York Used to Be”
-The Kills

“Stock Exchange”
-Miss Kittin & the Hacker

“Positively 4th Street”
-Bob Dylan

“Yeah! New York”
-Yeah Yeah Yeahs

“This Mess We’re In”
-PJ Harvey (Feat. Thom Yorke)

“South 2nd”
-CocoRosie

“NYC Everything”
-RZA

“Chelsea Hotel”
-Leonard Cohen

“Hello Brooklyn”
-Beastie Boys

“Fairy Tale of New York”
-Stars (Pogues cover)

“Piazza, New York Catcher”
-Belle & Sebastian

“The Last Tango in Brooklyn”
-Frightened Rabbit

“53rd & 3rd”
-The Ramones

“New York, New York”
-Cat Power

“Hello Brooklyn”
-Jay-Z & Lil’ Wayne

Also, while you’re there, leave me a comment with your top 5 favorite New York songs!!