A little birdie told me …

… the final first week numbers for the Early Works. I am not going to comment on them, just post:

Sales numbers: Tues. through Sat. sales - 2219 cd’s, with another 133 sold on Sunday (2352 total).

My source is reliable and wishes to remain anonymous. I trust that the numbers are what s/he has learned, although I do allow for some margin of error no matter who is giving me info.

Wanna help spread the good word?

dreamhrt - Boogie Boarder and webmistress of her own - has created a graphic that she has generously offered up to anyone who wants to use it on their own site for promoting Taylor’s Early Works at Target:

(click on the picture for full size)

If you are not familiar with dreamhrt, she is the founder of The Real Deal Forum and has two Taylor-themed blogs: The Taylor Hicks Times fanlisting and The Real Deal Forum Blog. She is big into creating graphics (so these sites are not recommended for people on slow computers) and has a very positive, upbeat attitude - especially when it comes to Taylor and promoting his music.

If you are so inclined, please do pay her sites a visit. I think you’ll like them.

Wanna see the Early Works back cover?

It’s a good one!

Thanks go to Soulkaren on The Boogie - she met a very nice Target employee who let her see the CD and snap a quick cellphone pic of the back cover. No, she was not allowed to buy the album (yet) - stores can get in BIG trouble for selling early.

In the interest of not spoiling things for anyone wishing to view it on Tuesday morning with no sneak peeks, Karen posted a link to her Photobucket rather than the actual picture. I am going to follow suit:

Early Works Back Cover

Yay! Thank you, Karen!!

My apologies, Taylor fans

I must apologize for that unfortunate link to a hate blog that was here earlier as one of the automatically generated “Possibly Related Posts” feature here on WordPress.

I think, generally speaking, that feature is wonderful. It allows people with similar interests to easily find each other and spark conversation and friendship. Unfortunately, there are so many Hate Blogs now that I have had to turn off the PRP feature on my personal blog and now here as well.

I am VERY sorry if that BS caused anyone any amount of distress.

Boogie on!

On a happier note - Ash posted!! Yay!! Check out the Original Boogie Blog for a post about Jamie Lidell. I think many of us were introduced to him via Ash way back in the GC days. He is certainly a very interesting performer.

Taylor Hicks’ Early Works exclusive to Target?

That’s the word on the street. A poster named “Kevin” on HQ has confirmed the rumor. Another person whom I trust on The Boogie has informed me that Kevin is Taylor’s contact at his management company (kinda like Nicole was with The Firm).

This should be damned good news for Taylor! If the Target-exclusive deals work like the Wal-Mart deals, Taylor will see more promotion and more profit than he could even hope for with a standard distribution contract. Great!!

And on a personal note, I am glad to see Taylor’s Early Works at Target rather than Wal-Mart. Target may or may not have their own shady business practices, but I KNOW Wal-Mart is hell. Don’t get me wrong - I shop there. However, I hate it, but in this economy and with my wages Wal-Hell is intregal to my survival at this point (damn them).

Anyway! Congrats, Taylor, on this (hopefully) lucrative deal!

Wanna meet Taylor Hicks?

Got a lot of extra dough?

Here’s the most recent announcement from Taylor’s Fanclub (also posted on his MySpace):

Hey HQ’ers!

We want to further share Taylor Hicks’ Broadway experience with you!

We are excited to announce new member exclusive Broadway Ticketing Packages that are available now!

There are two tiers of M&G Ticket Packages to see Taylor as Teen Angel in the Broadway production of Grease:

- $375 gets you two tickets and passes to meet Taylor on the stage after the show.
- $475 gets you two tickets and passes to meet Taylor in his dressing room after the show.

** Only 3 pairs of tickets will be sold for each performance

These exclusive ticketing packages will currently be available for the following shows:

• 7/18 @ 8pm
  
• 7/19 @ 2pm and 8pm
  
• 7/20 @ 2pm and 7pm
  
• 7/25 @ 8pm
  
• 7/26 @ 2pm and 8pm
  
• 7/27 @ 2pm and 7pm

** Additional Performances To Be Announced Shortly

-THHQ

According to Taylor’s MySpace, these packages will go on sale to “the general public” soon, but fanclub members get to vie for them first. It’s not something I’d go for, but hey - if you’ve got the money to burn and haven’t met Taylor yet it may be something you wanna check into. Could be fun.

If you aren’t a fanclub member, you can join here. Whether you want to purchase a Ticket Package or not, the fanclub is an easy, cheap way to support Taylor. At $25/year (U.S. & Canada) and $30/year (International), you wind up paying about $2.08 or $2.50 a month, respectfully. Even if you almost never visit the place (me!) I still think it shows support for the man and the music to join. But that’s 150% up to you (no judgments or guilt trips here, honest!)

Early Works track listing

Amazon has revealed the track list for Taylor’s Early Works:

Soul Thing
The Fall
Hold On to Your Love
The Deal
Heart and Soul
In Your Time
West Texas Sky
Somehow
Tighten Up
Son of a Carpenter
My Friend
Georgia (with Billy Earl McClelland)

This means he left off Hell of a Day (from UTR) & On Broadway (from IYT).  Interesting.

I am a little surprised at the deletion of On Broadway (since he is, after all, presently on Broadway), but I imagine perhaps he couldn’t get the distribution rights?  But he obviously did before because it was on IYT.  Maybe the price went up (since his cache did just that).  Hmm, who knows?

I’m guessing Hell of a Day didn’t make the cut because of its inclusion on TH?  But wouldn’t it be cool for people to hear it in its previous form after becoming familiar with it in its jazzed up persona?  I know that I like to hear different versions of songs from the same artist and find the variations intriguing, but maybe most people don’t?  Then again - Soul Thing is on both TH and EW.

I am very happy to see Tighten Up on there.  That cover is exceptionally well done.  Ooh!  I just had a thought - that tune has the band intros in it.  So these guys that Taylor knew and worked with way back when get to be on a major release by a major artist.  If they are still in the business that could really give them a boost.  Ahh, that Taylor.  Always remembering the guys who helped him get to where he is today.  Good guy, that Taylor Hicks.

Early Works cover art

You can pre-order the album here.  There is still no track listing, but the general consensus (based on the title and comments made by Taylor in interviews and to fans at the stagedoor) is that this is a repackaging of IYT and UTR.

Dare we hope for a “bonus” DVD of the long anticipated Whomp at the Warfield ?  I personally doubt it based on the price of Early Works.

We have a couple of lively discussions going on over on the message Board -

In News about Early Works! there is the usual specualtion and handwringing that goes with any major new Taylor Hicks development.  Jump right in!!

In Early Works Album Cover we have the Art Reveal and chatter about the pictures as well as content.

Come join us, won’t you?

Wanna buy five copies for my Mother …

So, Early Works is now available on Amazon for pre-order, but we still don’t know exactly what’s on it - Is it a straight repackaging of UTR and IYT? On one disk or two? Are they “remastered”? Re-recorded? Live? Any neat bonus stuff, like some pre-AI bootlegs? Maybe a little Ain’t No Sunshine (ple-e-e-ease)?

For some, new artwork will be enough to get them to buy the Early Works. For others, extensive liner notes might do it. Personally, I don’t see me purchasing this album, but we’ll see. If there are some good liner notes and/or a bonus track of some sort, and the price is right (and my financial situation says “go ahead”), things could change. However at this point I’m gonna have to say “no” (sorry, Taylor).

Thanks so very much to Poolie of The Boogie for her fabulous Rolling Stone cover. Dare we hope?

Glen Allen, VA - Innsbrook After Hours - 07/07/07

This recap from last year’s show comes to us from 4tay of The Boogie Board.

Meeting up with my Sarasota Soul Patrol friends and 2 husbands, we waited for 4 long hot hours on a black parking lot, ran across a barren hill, sat in the front row, coined the phrase ’soul control’, and received a harp face massage from Taylor during the encore of TI2TS. We met with Taylor, Brian and Josh afterward, got a set list from the newbie guitar guy and then went and crashed at a local restaurant where we forgot to eat the food we ordered.

This is my recap from that day and pictures. I know they are big. Also a picture movie of the day and a video of Gonna Move right up until the camera narc caught me again. I was caught 11 out of 13 shows. I should be so lucky in the lottery.

It was an unforgettable show. Outside, hot, humid but Taylor delivered as always.

Taylor was in good voice, looked adorable and was in a great funning mood with the audience and the band. I know on one song Taylor forgot the lyrics. He kept repeating the same line and Al and Josh just cracked up. During the Runaround, Taylor made up a little sign for ‘getting an A in broken hearts’ by putting his first two fingers down making an A and running around to the other band members with his hands in an A. He was nutty all night.

I got a set list after the show off of the stage from Clay. Thanks Clay. The songs were a good mix and Taylor sang them slow and clear. He intro’d each song and each band member. He repeatedly thanked his fans for putting him there and made references to his refrig magnets and his CD.

Intro’ing JTFTW, Taylor really layed into Clive. Yes, Clive told me to sing this song. It was Clive. Clive said to release this as my first single. It’s all Clive! In Tampa, he said when Clive tells you to release a song, you just say, ‘yes, boss’. His tone is changing but in a gracious but hilarious way. During Brick in the Wall, Taylor emphasized repeatedly ‘we don’t need no mind control’. We all agreed that this was a significant message from Taylor. Going on a song-writing hiatus, Taylor will be in control the next time out. Good for him. I hope he’s taking note of Kelly Clarkson and her revelation of late.

Taylor was in a good mood, playful, funny and was having a great time with his band. I think he changes things during the set and the guys are constantly watching him to see what fingers he puts up or a signal to keep going or end it.

After AC and the HOB’s scene when NuChik went up on stage, I was wondering what Taylor would be doing at this show. We thought maybe Elliott would make an appearance but that was not to be. So, my sister decides to yell at Taylor from the front row the following: With a Taylor silver bear that she bought earlier stuffed in her shirt and bra, she yells ‘Taylor, kiss my bear’. He stops dead, looks at her and says ‘You want me to kiss you?’. ‘No, kiss my bear’ He looks at the bear and where he would have to go to kiss it and says, ‘Well, I’m gonna have to exercise Soul Control on that one’. I’m wondering if she had thrown her bra up there with the bear in it, if he would have been as funny. She later got him to sign her bear at the busses. It was not in her shirt upon signing.

Everyone stood the entire time. We inched up to the stage a little at a time only to see Kat already there and boogeying big time. I think someone had to tell her when each song stopped. Getting into the zone early and fast means total enjoyment for Kat especially when she has her ‘blood and bone’ shirt on. I tried to look at the crowd for their reaction and it was total joy on almost all the faces. Men, children included. I looked at our front row group and it was complete joy in being there in front after traveling so far and waiting so long. Tish looked like she could not get enough. Kat: Bobbing and rocking and even a little beating of the hands on the stage. Bev was just in heaven from the look on her face. Especially each time Taylor stood and sang right in front of her face. For me, I try to get as much out of every song as I can by clapping, dancing with Pam and taking pictures. My camera lets me see the action and shoot it too. But there are some times I feel bad taking Taylor’s picture so when he is right on top of me LOL I don’t shoot. I can’t move anyway so I just soak up that face.

So, Taylor ends his set. Does his Ray Charles bob and exits with us left in the dust. We know he’s coming back and from the stage set-up we know not to expect acoustic. TI2TS is the encore. Okay. It’s not what we wanted but okay………

Then the harp comes out and he is 2’ from our faces bent over making that harp squeal and croak until we thought we were going to stop breathing. I couldn’t look to see how the group reacted except for Tish and I know for myself I was enraptured. Never heard that harp wail so sweet. I never wanted it to end. Our luck ran out when it did. The show went by so fast but he was on for almost 1.5 hours. The encore made us all feel like deer in the headlights.

Some pictures. When I showed my 200 pics to my husband, he asked where were the pictures of the rest of the band? Duh.

What I wouldn’t give to hear Soul Finger again.

Video

Video of pictures I took at Innsbrook
At 6:40 there is a picture of some of the intensity we felt from Taylor in the encore. He did that face massage with the harp just for us. It was a fantastic end to a long, long journey.

- 4tay

Here’s the setlist from that evening for anyone who is curious:

Innsbrook After Hours - Glen Allen, VA - July 07, 2007
Gonna Move
Heart and Soul —-> Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (Chuck Berry)
Call Me the Breeze (JJ Cale)
My Friend
Just To Feel That Way
Medicated Goo (Traffic)
- Light My Fire (Doors)
- Fire on the Bayou (The Meters)
Don’t Let Me Down (Beatles)
Hell of a Day —-> Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two (Pink Floyd)
The Deal
Heaven Knows
- What’d I Say, call and response (Ray Charles)
- Make it Funky (James Brown) (brief, one-off shout)
Maze
- Smoke From a Distant Fire (Sanford-Townsend Band)
- Rough God Goes Riding (Van Morrison)
- Scatting, mic wavering
- Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
The Right Place
- Grits Ain’t Groceries (Little Milton)
The Runaround
- Baby Please Don’t Go (Muddy Waters) —-> Willie Brown Blues (Ry Cooder & Joe Seneca)

Encore:
Takin’ It to the Streets (Doobie Brothers)
- Train, Train (Blackfoot) (very brief mention, not a true tag)