PHIL RAMONE IS THE “GENIUS” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10.22) BEHIND ANTICIPATED WINTER PROJECTS ‘AUGUST RUSH’, 2008 MUSICARES, AND NEW ALBUMS FROM RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, ANNE MURRAY, AND SHELBY LYNNE
With the success of Tony Bennett’s ‘Duets: An American Classic’ (Columbia), ‘We All Love Ella’ (Verve), the corresponding PBS Special ‘We Love Ella! A Tribute To The First Lady Of Song’ and now the recently released memoir Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music (Hyperion), one would think 2007 is already the year of Phil Ramone, but there’s even more to come from the protean producer. The next four months bring a medley of new music productions for film, stage and CD.
*’AUGUST RUSH’ WARNER BROS FILM OUT NOV 21st, 2007
Ramone produced three tracks sung by actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers for this musically narrated drama. Ramone served as the music producer for the concert prior to the films premiere featuring performances by The Berklee College of Music Orchestra and Choir, IMPACT’s Charles Mack, cellist Jenn Kuhn, and guitarists Doug Smith and Christ Trapper with Berklee solo vocalists Jennifer Hirsch, and Kevin Ross and solo instrumentalists Alex Han and Alexis Grapsas.
*RUFUS WAINWRIGHT ‘RUFUS DOES JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL’ OUT DEC 4TH, 2007 ON GEFFEN
Ramone helped Wainwright recreate Judy Garland’s famed 1961 Carnegie Hall concert in its entirety on this two disc 27 live track set.
*ANNE MURRAY ‘DUETS: FRIENDS & LEGENDS’ OUT JAN 15th, 2008 ON EMI
Some of the finest female voices intermingle on this album of Murray’s classic songs. Recorded in Los Angeles, Nashville and Toronto, Ramone paired Shania Twain, Martina McBride, Nelly Furtado, Isabelle Boulay, kd lang, Celtic Woman, Carole King, Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, Jann Arden, Shelby Lynne, Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion, Amy Grant, Indigo Girls, Dawn Langstroth (Anne’s daughter) and a previously recorded Dusty Springfield track with Anne.
*SHELBY LYNNE ‘JUST A LITTLE LOVIN” OUT FEB 5th, 2008 ON LOST HIGHWAY
Lynne explains how she chose Ramone for this homage to country legend Dusty Springfield, “I needed someone who would understand that these songs stand the test of time, and that Dusty Springfield is timeless…. Then one afternoon [my manager] Betty mentioned the guy who would understand me. He would allow me more room in the studio, and not just being the girl singer. He would choose the right band. So, I picked up the phone and called Phil Ramone.”
*2008 MUSICARES PERSON OF THE YEAR HONORING ARETHA FRANKLIN FEB 8th, 2008
Ramone is currently putting together an all-star lineup for this anticipated and prestigious annual event held in Los Angeles two days before the GRAMMY Awards. Honoring the seventeen-time GRAMMY-winning recording artists Aretha Franklin is sure to produce a regal line up.