(1888PressRelease)
June 17, 2009 - Once again, Boston-area singer-songwriter Howie Newman has established himself as one of the preeminent composers of baseball music. His latest release, “Baseball’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2,” is a rocking collection of tunes that are not only humorous and catchy but also reflect a true appreciation of the grand old game.
And why not? Newman was a sportswriter for 18 years, covering two World Series, dozens of playoff games and a myriad of other events.
The six-song CD includes a dissertation on the Mendoza Line, a tribute to once-a-week ballplayers (“Weekend Warrior”) and an ode to Doug Mientkiewicz. Closer to home in Red Sox Nation, Newman sings about breaking the Curse of the Bambino (“It’s the End of the Curse and We Know It,” an R.E.M. parody) and Johnny Damon’s defection to the Yankees.
His classic drinking song, “Blasted in the Bleachers,” uses Fenway Park as a backdrop – but it could be about any ballpark.
Doug Miller of mlb.com, the official Web site of major League Baseball, calls the album “clever, funny and heartfelt.”
Miller’s review is available at http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_entertainment.jsp?ymd=20080812&content_id=3295468&vkey=entertainment&fext=.jsp&partnerId=rss_mlb
Newman’s first album of diamond delights, “Baseball’s Greatest Hits, Volume 1,” was released in 1979 as a vinyl record and reissued as a CD in 2001. Both CDs are on his own label, Major League Records, and are published by Chin Music. You can also find them in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Archive in Cooperstown, N.Y.
“I try to write songs about various off-beat topics and baseball just seems to come naturally for me,” said Newman, whose other compositions satirize cell phones, intergalactic garbage collection and getting up in the morning. “I guess that’s because baseball is an everyday part of my life.”
For further information about Howie Newman and his music, visit his Web site: http://www.howienewman.com.
Contact: Howie Newman
hjnewman ( @ ) verizon dot net
http://www.howienewman.com
###
