from the April 20th online newsletter from BackStage Los Angeles

Batdorf & Rodney - New CD Release !

"Still Burnin' "

"Still Burnin' " was created out of last summer's reunion tour of Batdorf & Rodney, and their live XM Loft radio interview. In addition to some of the Batdorf & Rodney standards performed in a live setting (that prove the guys have only improved over the years), there are also some new songs including "Summer of Love" which we previewed during a recent studio interview with John Batdorf and Michael McLean...which will be airing soon!

To preview some of the new CD, click on the CD title above.

John Batdorf is a talented singer/songwriter, who in addition to writing his own songs, has also written for such bands as "America." John Batdorf & Michael McLean have also collaborated on CD's together - one of my personal favorites is "The Early Years."

John released a solo CD last year "Home Again"...

and also teamed up with James Lee Stanley to createan all-acoustic version of Rolling Stones songs. U.S.A. Today described it as "Paint it Fresh!"

It's always a pleasure to work with John Batdorf, and see him in concert...and it was a treat to get to work with Michael McLean for the first time!

Pictured left to right, Back row:

Michael Sunday (Host), Michael McLean (Guest).

Front row:

Sandy Jacobson (Producer), John Batdorf (Guest).
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Sandy Jacobson, Creator & Producer
Backstage: Los Angeles
“L.A.’s REAL Music Show”

Website: http://www.backstagelosangeles.net/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/backstagelosangeles
Show Merchandise: http://www.cafepress.com/backstagela

STILL BURNIN' coming soon....

HOME AGAIN named "one of the best CDs of 2007" by Indie Acoustic Project (IAP)

HOME AGAIN named “one of the best CDs of 2007"
by Indie Acoustic Project (IAP).

HOME AGAIN has been selected as a finalist in the Indie Acoustic Project’s “Best CDs of 2007” awards in the Male Singer-Songwriter category. As per the IAP, The selection process was both heartening and difficult: as they were privileged to experience multitudes of outstanding CDs, but were only able to award recognition to the top 45 (3 CDs in each of 15 categories), plus “Songs of Note,” which recognizes 10 outstanding songs from CDs not among the finalists. They have listed the finalists on their website at www.indieacoustic.com, and will be sending out press releases announcing the finalists within a week. The winners in each category will be selected and announced by April 30, and award certificates will be mailed by June 1st.

The purpose of the Indie Acoustic Project awards is to generate increased awareness of indie artists and record companies by promoting and recognizing outstanding works of innovative, independently produced acoustic music from around the world, and to provide a means of helping the artists to reach a wider audience.

As per the IAP, regardless of which CD is eventually selected as the "winner" in each category, the 45 CDs selected as finalists (HOME AGAIN among them) constitute the very best acoustic music released in the past year. It is the official opinion of the IAP that each of the finalist CDs is “one of the best CDs of 2007.”

Next Sat 3/29 - John Batdorf @ Soho in Santa Barbara plus STILL BURNIN' reminder

Sat, 29 March 2008 @ 6pm
John Batdorf, Lily Wilson, Andrew Jackson
@ SoHo
1221 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 962-1622
http://www.sohosb.com/index2.html
Price: $10.00
This will be a very special dinner concert
with John Batdorf, Lily Wilson, Andrew Jackson.

Also, don't forget!
STILL BURNIN',
the new CD from John Batdorf
and Mark Rodney
is due out mid-April '08!!!!
See Johns' website news section
for more info!

"Still Burnin'" the New CD from John Batdorf and Mark Rodney due out Mid-April '08

Two years ago the thought of doing a new BATDORF & RODNEY LIVE CD was the farthest thing from my mind. I hadn't spoken to Mark since 1987 and wasn't feeling terribly nostalgic about the music we made together. I was making new music, exploring new creative frontiers and so the idea of reclaiming a by-gone era wasn't on my radar. But life, as the saying goes, is what happens to us while we're making other plans. Turns out I was on my way to St. George Utah to do a gig at the beautiful Tuachan Center for the Performing Arts. My traveling companions were my wife Melanie, her sister Robin and her husband Steve Smith. Steve was the roadie, road manager and sound guy for Batdorf & Rodney all those years ago. When we got to Las Vegas we all decided to take a trip down memory lane and so I called Mark to see if he could meet us for dinner. It was a bit awkward at first, but before long we all were laughing and having a great time together. It wasn't like the heavens opened and a Batdorf & Rodney reunion was ordained from on high, but it wasn't long after that dinner while working on a new solo CD that I decided to re-record a few Batdorf and Rodney songs. So it was in making the CD "HOME AGAIN" that I invited Mark to play on the recording. It was a whole lot different than the old days but the finished product came out great. It must have been a good experience for Mark because he got the itch to perform again so I added him to a few of my shows here in L.A. The word got around and the next thing you know, we were performing in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and the fans were really enjoying it.

It was while I was out on the road with James Lee Stanley last summer that I stopped by the XM Studios and had lunch with Mike Marrone, Jerry Rubino, and George Taylor Morris. James and I wanted to thank them again for the incredible support of our CD,"All Wood And Stones". Mike, who is a true Batdorf and Rodney fan, asked how the shows were going with Mark and I told him about how much fun we were having and the next thing you know, we were booked to do a Loft Session at XM Studios on November 16, 2007. The music gods at this point were really smiling down on us and Mark, Bill Batstone and myself recorded an hour of music and stories that was (and I don't know any other way of saying this) simply magical! XM was nice enough to give me the whole raw session so that I could mix it the way I wanted and release it as a new live CD. During the editing and mixing I tried to capture the sounds and the feelings of the early albums and the result truly makes me smile. My only regret is that we didn't get to go for another hour! In addition to the live performances, the CD contains two brand new songs, "Summer of Love" and "Four Days Runnin'" recorded here in L.A. I am very excited about this project and my hope is that everyone who listens to it will be taken right back to the first time they heard these songs and smile as much as I did.

-John Batdorf

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Website: http://www.johnbatdorfmusic.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/johnbatdorf
Blog: http://johnbatdorf.blogspot.com/

John Batdorf Featured in The Mother Hen Promotions showcase room @ Folk Alliance 2/21-22-23/08

Click the links for the myspace blogs listed below
for all details on appearance dates & times:

For the Mother Hen Promotions showcase schedule with artist links

For the Mother Hen Promotions postcard

John Batdorf Schedule postcard

James Lee Stanley Schedule postcard

John Batdorf, James Lee Stanley Play at Charles & Myrtle's -TN - on Sat 2/16

John Batdorf, James Lee Stanley Plat At Charles And Myrtle's Saturday
The Chattanoogan - Chattanooga,TN,USA
John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley will bring California pop and folk music to Charles and Myrtle’s Coffeehouse on Saturday at 8 pm There is a $10 suggested ...
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