My Hometown: a Tribute to NJ - Press Release June 18, 2013

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, June 18, 2013

The NJ Record Company, FDR Label, has announced a July 23^rd release date for the new compilation CD, My Hometown: a Tribute to NJ.  All proceeds from the sale of the album will go to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.  Label will celebrate with release show on Friday July 26^th in Bordentown, NJ at The Record Collector.

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My Hometown: a Tribute to NJ is a collection of songs originally recorded by NJ artists - covered by an eclectic mix of super talented indie bands.  Fans can pre-order the CD today at http://www.fdrlabel.com  and receive an immediate download of one song from the album.  Full album will be available on July 23^rd.   

"It's amazing how much good music came from our little state!" So says Mick Chorba, FDR label founder and president.  Chorba adds, "What is amazing is how many great artists aren't even covered here - this could be volume one of a series of 10 and we wouldn't run out of great tunes."

FDR Label has released a series of highly successful tribute compilations including FDR’s Tribute to the Who, a Pop Tribute to the Replacements, an 80’s movie tribute CD called High School Reunion, and a CD featuring songs with girls’ names in the title called About a Girl.   Contributing artists have included Guided By Voices, Mathew Sweet, Pat Dinizio (Smithereens), Frank Black (Pixies), Dresden Dolls, and many more including Chorba’s own bands – The Dipsomaniacs and The Successful Failures as well as FDR label regulars Taggart and Bastards of Melody.  Chorba looks to continue this winning formula – this time honoring his home state. 

For this collection, no song or band was too obvious or too obscure.  The great NJ band The Grip Weeds unearthed a classic tune by the Knickerbockers.  While Trenton’s The Cryptkeeper Five kicked the dust off the Springsteen anthem “No Surrender”.  The Successful Failures paid homage to an early-album Fountains of Wayne song while Cliff Hillis and Steve Butler (Smash Palace) actually recruited a Smithereen (bass player Severo) to record the Simthereen’s pop tune “Listen to Me Girl”.   Full track listing is below or visit the FDR Label site – http://www.fdrlabel.com

The label plans to celebrate the CD with a blow-out bash at The Record Collector in Bordentown, NJ on Friday July 26^th.  Artists performing at the show include The Successful Failures, The Cryptkeeper Five, Janet LaBelle. The Paper Jets, and more tba.   Show starts at 7:30.  Tickets are $12.00.

My Hometown: a Tribute to NJ will be available to purchase directly from the label at www.fdrlabel.com.  The CD will also be available for purchase from ITunes, Amazon.com, and most online music vendors.  Locally the physical  CD can be purchased at the Tunes Record stores, The Record Collector, and the Princeton Record Exchange.

For more information contact Mick Chorba @ FDR Label – fdrlabel@verizon.net, 856 495-1773

Links:

http://www.fdrlabel.com
http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://www.thesuccessfulfailures.com
http://www.dipsomaniacs.bandcamp.com
Mick Chorba on FB - http://www.facebook.com/mick.chorba
The Successful Failures on FB - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Successful-Failures/110487731918?fref=ts

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Complete Track Information:

1.Janet LaBelle - Baby It's You (The Shirelles)
2.Bastards of Melody - It's My Party (Lesley Gore)
3.The Grip Weeds - Lies (The Knickerbockers)
4.The Cryptkeeper Five - No Surrender (Bruce Springsteen)
5.The Successful Failures - I've Got a Flair (Fountains of Wayne)
6.Cliff Hillis & Steve Butler - Listen to Me Girl (The Smithereens)
7.Keith Monacchio - Meeting Across the River (Bruce Springsteen)
8.The Anderson Council - He'll Make You Cry (The Critters)
9.Jim Testa & His Inappropriately Younger Band - The Bulrushes / Dancing Barefoot (The Bongos / Patti Smith)
10.Springhouse - No One Has to Know (Richard Barone & James Mastro)
11.Taggart - Murray (Pete Yorn)
12.The Brixton Riot - Upside Down (Yo La Tengo)
13.Snap Infraction - You Better Run (The Rascals)
14.The Silence Kit - Anything, Anything (Dramarama)
15.Roomtone - Our Way to Fall (Yo La Tengo)
16.Tim Lee 3 - The Bulrushes (Bongos)
17.The Paper Jets - Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen)
18.Jon Caspi & The First Gun - I Like Your Mom (Bouncing Souls) 

NJ Artists... help me out here

I have been brainstorming with bandmates, friends, and co-producer of the tribute Jay Hoffman (and getting some help form Jack Rabid/Big Takeover) on a list of Jersey bands that could be covered for the new compilation CD.  Here's what we have so far.

Sinatra, Frankie Valli, Springsteen, Debbie Harry/Blondie, Smithereens, The Shirelles, Leslie Gore, Feelies, Wild Carnation, Misfits, Bongos, Southside Johnny, Bon Jovi, Connie Francis, Adrenalin OD, Fountains of Wayne, Gaslight Anthem, Yo la Tengo, East River Pipe, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, John Eddie, Dillinger Escape Plan, Bouncing Souls, Wrens (one of my personal favorite and too often overlooked bands), Patti Smith, Monster Magnet, Nicole Atkins,  DBs (once they moved to Hoboken),  Lord John,  Spent, Tiny Lights, Ditch Croaker,  Big Troubles, Real Estate, Vivian Girls, Titus Adronicus, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Screaming Females,...

NJ mentioned in songs... Freddie Boom Boom Cannon's "Palisades Park", Tom Waits' Jersey Girl,.....

Frankie Valli - now that says Jersey

My Hometown - Press Release

For Immediate Release

Tuesday November 28^th, 2012

NJ indie label, FDR, has announced plans for a new Tribute CD called My Hometown – a Jersey Tribute. The CD will raise money to help rebuilding efforts along the New Jersey coast.  All proceeds, after production costs, will be donated to local relief organizations.  

"Everything dies, baby, that's a fact - but maybe everything that dies someday comes back..."

- Bruce Springsteen

Those words, written by one of New Jersey's finest artists, ring true as we look upon some of the devastation that has spread across major parts of the Jersey coastline.  Today, Mick Chorba, President of FDR Label announces a new project to raise money and awareness to help rebuild the Jersey Shore.  

FDR Label has released a series of highly successful tribute compilations including FDR’s Tribute to the Who, a Pop Tribute to the Replacements, an 80’s movie tribute CD called High School Reunion, and a CD featuring songs with girls’ names in the title called About a Girl.   Contributing artists have included Guided By Voices, Mathew Sweet, Pat Dinizio (Smithereens), Frank Black (Pixies), Dresden Dolls, and many more.  Chorba looks to continue this winning formula – this time honoring his home state. 

Chorba states, “I am a huge fan of all things Jersey – the collective talent pool, as far as rock n roll goes, is incredible.  This project not only gives me a chance to honor my home state but give something back as well.”   

FDR is looking for bands to cover songs that were sung by or written by artists who were born or lived in NJ.  Songs could also be included that mention New Jersey or a well-known Jersey landmark in the lyrics or title. 

Songs will be considered between December 2012 and March2013.   Album release date is projected to be in April 2013.  Bands are urged to contact Mick Chorba at the FDR label for submission instructions. Artists selected for the final album will be included in all press and promotion activities. 

FDR Records Tour de Shore

Selected artists will also be invited to participate in the FDR LAbel Tour de Shore. Bands will participate in a weekend long concert tour of the Jersey shore sometime in early Spring.  These events will continue to raise awareness about the ongoing plight in some Jersey towns and raise money for continued relief efforts.  Time and dates of tour events are still being determined. 

For more information contact Mick Chorba @ FDR Label – fdrlabel@verizon.net, 856 495-1773

www.fdrlabel.com

www.thesuccessfulfailures.com

www.dipsomaniacs.bandcamp.com

Mick Chorba on FB - http://www.facebook.com/mick.chorba

The Successful Failures on FB - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Successful-Failures/110487731918?fref=ts

My Hometown

I'm really excited about my latest album project - a compilation of bands covering songs about NJ and/or songs by NJ artists.  All proceeds to benefit local recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy.  Can't wait to move forward with this.  Need to move fast.

FDR has a great tradition with compilations and tributes including our tribute to The Who and our Replacements tribute as well as our 80s movie tribute, High School Reunion.  These albums have featured some awesome artists including Guided By Voices, Pat Dinizio, Frank Black, Matthew Sweet, and more!  Looking to put together another super line-up.

Check out my other comps at www.fdrlabel.com