aaamusic | On 22, Apr 2011

ALBUM FEATURES GUEST ARTISTS STEVIE NICKS, MARTINA MCBRIDE, AND COLBIE CAILLAT. WATCH EXCLUSIVE TRAILER ABOUT THE UPCOMING COMPANION FILM THE BLACKBIRD DIARIES

Proper Records is thrilled to announce a partnership with Weapons of Mass Entertainment and Surfdog Records for the release of an exciting new album project from Artist/Producer/Director and Eurythmics co-founder, Dave Stewart. His new album, The Blackbird Diaries is set to be released in Britain on Monday, June 27^th 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 4^th.

“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 Honest premiered 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.

“The Blackbird Diaries is a wonderful record and we are delighted to be working with Dave, he is a unique British talent.” Drew Hill, Director, Proper Records.

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