And the Tracks Are…: “2012 Grammy Nominees” Disc Due

With the 54th Annual Grammy Awards mere weeks away on February 13, it’s getting close to one of music’s most vaunted pre-Grammy traditions: the release of the annual Grammy nominees compilation.

Due out January 24, 2012 Grammy Nominees compiles exactly the artists you’d expect, from multiple award nominees (British soul songstress Adele, pop acts Bruno Mars and Katy Perry, modern rock legends the Foo Fighters and country star Taylor Swift) to rising stars (rappers J. Cole and Nicki Minaj, alt-rockers Foster the People, dubstep artist/producer Skrillex). At 22 tracks from Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera to Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse, it’s every bit the who’s who of pop music in 2011 you’d expect.

But there’s a bit of an interesting twist this year: fans who buy the album, either physically or digitally, will be able to participate in a contest with a grand prize of tickets to next year’s Grammy Awards. Details on that event are here, and details of the album are after the jump.

Been Down So Long: The Doors’ “L.A. Woman” Celebration Underway, Super Deluxe Edition Cancelled

It’s finally time to open the doors on the much-anticipated 40^th anniversary celebration of The Doors’ L.A. Woman.  We first reported on the L.A. Woman festivities back in April 2011, the actual month of the anniversary.  The band looked forward to the fall release of a deluxe edition of its acclaimed sixth and final album with Jim Morrison.  Then in September, we passed on an update from Jeff Jampol, the steward of The Doors’ legacy, announcing “The Year of the Doors” campaign and promising the L.A. Woman project for 2012.  At that point, it was envisioned as a 5-CD Super Deluxe Edition.  Soon, plans were reconfigured to offer a reasonably-priced 2-CD edition (the original album on Disc 1, and outtakes and alternates on Disc 2) and a 3-CD compendium of session material.  A Record Store Day-exclusive singles collection previewed the alternate material.  Well, the New Year has come, and in just two weeks, the first of the album’s related reissues arrives along with a documentary on its making.  Another vinyl release will follow, and the celebration will conclude with the 3-CD box set.

On January 24, Elektra and Rhino will release the 40th Anniversary Edition of L.A. Woman.  Its centerpiece can be found on Disc 2, a recently-discovered track entitled “She Smells So Nice,” which finds Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, John Densmore and Ray Manzarek jamming on an original melody before seguing into “Rock Me” and Morrison’s “Mr. Mojo Risin’” chant.   The second disc also presents eight previously-unissued alternate takes of the album’s songs such as “Love Her Madly” and “Riders on the Storm.”  It’s promised that “the studio chatter between the songs is a revelation, transporting listeners to The Doors Workshop: the West Hollywood rehearsal space where they recorded the album with [Bruce] Botnick. One segment in particular captures a fascinating moment of inspiration when Morrison suggests they add the now-iconic thunderstorm sound effects to the beginning of ‘Riders on the Storm’.”

The same date will bring Eagle Rock Entertainment’s release of Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman, featuring new interviews with the three surviving members of The Doors, as well as Bruce Botnick, Elektra founder Jac Holzman and others.  The documentary will be available on both DVD and Blu-Ray, and the discs will contain bonus material.

What’s next in the L.A. Woman brigade of releases?  Hit the jump, and you’ll find more information including full track listings for each of the planned titles!