Frederic Wurtz & other: July 2008

Loudon Wainwright III

Artist: Loudon Wainwright III

   Genre(s):
Soundtrack
   Pop
   Folk
   Country

Discography:

Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up

Year: 2007
Tracks: 14

So Damn Happy

Year: 2003
Tracks: 17

The BBC Sessions

Year: 1998
Tracks: 21

Attempted Mustache

Year: 1998
Tracks: 12

Grown Man

Year: 1995
Tracks: 15

Career Moves

Year: 1993
Tracks: 24

History

Year: 1992
Tracks: 14

More Love Songs

Year: 1990
Tracks: 13

Loudon Wainwright III grew up in the town of Bedford in moneyed Westchester County north of New York City, the logos of Loudon S. Wainwright, Jr., a writer and editor program at Life magazine and a take descendant of colonial governor Peter Stuyvesant. Wainwright became a folk singer/songwriter in the late '60s, singing humourous and nakedly honest autobiographical songs. Signed to Atlantic Records, he recorded Album I (1970) and Album II (1971), resultant himself on acoustic guitar, before switch to Columbia Records, for which he made the folk-rock Album III (1972), which featured the Top 40 fallal strike "Bushed Skunk." Attempted Mustache (1973) and the half-live Unrequited (1975) did not extend that commercial success, though Wainwright's humor and engaging stagecoach image made him a cult figure and a concert favorite. Meanwhile, his songs were recorded by others, notably Kate (his wife, since divorced) and Anna McGarrigle, and Wainwright appeared in the off-Broadway show Pump Boys and Dinettes and played a featured part on the successful M*A*S*H television series. He stirred to Arista Records for T Shirt (1976) and Last Exam (1978), on which he was backed by a rock-and-roll stria, simply asleep the major labels for a more seize nursing home on the folk-based indie Rounder for A Live One (1980) and Fame and Wealth (1983). Wainwright began to gain more notice in England than in the U.S., and he stirred to London in 1985. I'm Alright (1985) and More Love Songs (1986) were co-produced by British singer/guitarist Richard Thompson. Therapy (1989) establish Wainwright on the major-label-distributed Silvertone imprint and back living in the U.S., and he signed to Virgin Records' Charisma subsidiary company for History (1992) and the hot Life history Moves (1993). Full-grown Man, his fifteenth album, was released in 1995, followed tercet years subsequently by Little Ship. In 1999, in that location appeared a collection of topical, humourous songs Wainwright had been composing since the late '80s for National Public Radio, titled Social Studies; the following class, The BBC Sessions poised favorites and raw compositions. The Last Man on Earth followed in 2001, and the live album So Damn Happy marked his debut for Sanctuary in 2003. Another studio album, Here Come the Choppers, was released in 2005. It was followed by Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up in 2007.

Owen excited about EastEnders return

Soap star Sid Owen has revealed that he is delighted to be returning to work on 'EastEnders'.
Owen, who left the soap four years ago, will be reunited with his former co-star Patsy Palmer when the pair return to Albert Square at the beginning of next month.
The on-screen couple were last seen together as Ricky and Bianca six years ago, while Owen left the Square in 2004.
Of his return the actor told Closer magazine: "I appreciate playing Ricky more now. When you're young, you take things for granted."
"I've had fans shout 'Rickaayyy!' at me in the street for as long as I can remember. At least I'm paid for it again now!"
Thirty-three-year-old Owen added that he believed there is still some chemistry between the characters.
He said: "Ricky's still a wuss and Bianca still has the upper hand - but there's definitely a spark!"

Sears targets teenagers with MTV film, street clothes designed by LL Cool J

CHICAGO - First came the decision to stock Skechers, a line of footwear teens favour. Then came the personalized avatar, the virtual identity Sears shoppers could accessorize online.

Now, the company that once offered in-store hearing aids and dentures is teaming up with MTV to produce a back-to-school movie while adding a line of street clothes and accessories designed by hip-hop artist LL Cool J.

After spending years trying to get shoppers to embrace its softer side, the ailing retailer is still known more for its hardware than handbags. So its latest strategy to stem slumping sales is trying to tap yet another new market: the young, hip and urban.

"While mom may decide what the acceptable place is to shop, the kids are deciding what clothes they want and what places have it," said Richard Gerstein, Sears' chief marketing officer. "If we come out of our season with much more relevance with this group, and improving our sales and profitability with this group, we think it's a big win."

Whether the initiatives can help Sears shed its stale image is up in the air. But what's certain, experts say, is that the chain led by financier Edward Lampert desperately needs to reinvent itself if it's going to survive.

"It's a great place to buy a washing machine, but you wouldn't want to get your jeans there," said Jayne Mountford, vice president of trend reporting for Stylesight, a global retail forecasting firm.

That's the sentiment Sears executives hope "The American Mall" movie and the LL Cool J gear, which will be available in mid-September, can change - particularly among the fickle and trend-conscious teen audience that's so far viewed the chain with caution.

"The American Mall," produced by the team responsible for the tween-loved "High School Musical" series, is a massive cross-promotion between MTV and Sears.

Scenes for the 87-minute film were shot in a Utah Sears store. Characters wear Sears clothes, which shoppers can purchase. And the actors will appear in Sears advertisements and circulars. Meanwhile, Sears will sell the DVD and soundtrack in stores, while promoting the film and getting commercial time when the movie airs on MTV on Aug. 11.

Neither Sears nor MTV executives would disclose their investment in the project, which has been in the works since November.

"If the movie works, it will benefit Sears certainly, as their exposure will benefit us," said John Shea, the executive vice president of integrated marketing and brand partnerships at MTV Networks Music & Logo Group.

But some industry observers said they don't believe Sears has the credibility to compete in the increasingly crowded teen market. Nor are they sure whether this latest effort will yield more success than previous initiatives aimed at bringing back shoppers.

"Trying to be everything to everybody is difficult because consumers have so many choices," said Morningstar analyst Kim Picciola. "If they can manage to reinvent themselves, I think it will be a big win for them. But I think that's going to be a challenge in this current environment."

Founded in 1886, Sears helped pioneer the mail-order business and grew to become the nation's largest retailer. It remained a back-to school staple for generation but fell out of favour as shoppers who found its brands dowdy and unexciting defected to other stores.

In 2005, Lampert acquired Sears, Roebuck and Co., and merged it with Kmart under the umbrella of Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp.

Under Lampert's leadership, the company initially posted high profits, thanks in part to strong investment income, which has long since disappeared along with the company's once-hefty war chest that's dwindled as it spent billions buying back stock.

During the most recent fiscal year, the company's earnings dropped 44 per cent to $826 million. And during the first quarter of 2008, Sears lost $56 million - its largest quarterly loss since the companies combined - and issued a dour sales forecast for the rest of the year.

As sales continue to fall, Sears blames its weak performance on tougher competition and slowing consumer spending because of the weak housing market and credit concerns. The company has also made poor inventory decisions that forced it to mark down items, despite the success of popular brands such as Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard and apparel lines such as Lands' End and Joe Boxer.

All of which makes Sears' comeback that much more difficult to achieve.

"They need to get younger customers in their stores," said Michael Stone, CEO and president of brand licensing agency The Beanstalk Group. "Teenagers have enough trouble walking in Wal-Mart and buying clothes and now they have to walk into Sears and walk through the washing machine and dryer section of the stores? It's going to be very hard."

It's a challenge Sears acknowledges and hopes it can overcome.

"When you talk about Sears ... it's off people's radar. We haven't really been speaking to them," Gerstein said. "I think that this partnerships delivers to us credibility."

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On the Net:

www.sears.com

www.theamericanmall.com

See Also

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