Les Fradkin: News

Les Fradkin appears as a special guest on Archer's "Breakfast With The Beatles" radio show this Sunday (June 3,2007) at 9AM MDT. In addition to answering questions about "Pepper Front To Back", Les will discuss the impact of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album over the last 40 years with DJ Archer.
A don't miss interview!

Link:
http://archer2000.tripod.com/beatles/highlights.html

Les Fradkin's new CD "Pepper Front To Back" has proven two things that Industry pundits believed impossible:

1) It has jsut set the mark of being the #1 most requested cover album in "Breakfast With The Beatles" history at 99.5 The Mountain KQMT in Denver, Colorado!

2) Simultaneously, it has proven the viability of the art of Guitar Instrumentals! Along with the great Jeff Beck, Les is blazing new trails for this approach which is seldom heard on mainstream commercial radio.

Read about it at:
http://archer2000.tripod.com/beatles/highlights.html

These days, when folks go on Apple iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, Music Now and other great download sites to get music by The Beatles, they think of Les Fradkin. With over 280,000 internet downloads and thousands more each month, Les is in the forefront on the Beatles download front. With several Beatles oriented releases to his credit, including "Something for George", "Love You 2", and his two guitar instrumental classics-"While My Guitar Only Plays" and "Pepper Front To Back", when people want to hear Beatles in their iPod, they think of Les Fradkin.

Les Fradkin's newest CD, "Pepper Front To Back", is the first Beatles oriented CD to completly feature the Roland Guitar Synthesizer and Roland VG8 Virtual Guitar System.

Les' new and innovative use of this technology offers Beatles fans something new while paying tribute to this most iconic of recordings.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lesfradkin13

Archer, host of "Breakfast With The Beatles" held the World Premiere of Les Fradkin's new CD "Pepper Front To Back" on Sunday April 1, 2007 on Radio 99.5FM (KMQT) Denver, Colorado. A splendid time was had by all!

http://archer2000.tripod.com/beatles/highlights.html

Les Fradkin has a brand new CD- "Pepper Front To Back." 14 Guitar Instrumentals. RELEASED NOW!!!

The entire Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album PLUS "All You Need Is Love" PLUS a special hidden track. All in time for the 40th Anniversary of The Summer Of Love and the 30th Anniversary of the opening of Beatlemania on Broadway which Les starred in as "George Harrison."

What's different here? A new sound for the guitar, courtesy of Les' Roland VG-8 V-Guitar Technology and heavily modified Fender "Rocky" Stratocaster and Wilson Bros. Ventures Guitars. The Beatles, George Martin and Giles Martin started a mash up of Beatles tracks for The Cirque du Soleil and Love albums.

Les takes things one step further with a virtual mash-up of guitar technology resulting in guitar sounds never heard before and sonic possibilities only dreamed of till now.

On sale at CD Baby, Amazon.com and iTunes.

CD Baby:
http://www.cdbaby.comlesfradkin13

"Under The Covers", Les Fradkin's newest release, has been named one of the Amazon.com top 15 hot new releases and a Best of 2006.

Les' new CD "Spirit Of Christmas" has spawned a new hit single at iTunes AND Rhapsody:

"Christmas Vacation."

Perfect for that mental getaway while you wait for your favorite holiday.

FEATURES THE iTUNES HIT:
"Hello Christmas, Goodbye Year"

Every year, so many people say they wish they could hear sone brand new Christmas songs. Well, here they are.... and as a bonus, you'll get new covers of George Harrison's "Ding Dong, Ding Dong", John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and Roy Wood and Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday."

Les' Rickenbacker 12-String Guitar jangles and chimes throughout this holiday disc.

Les' new songs for Christmas include some done in a Byrds meets Phil Spector style ("Say You Love Me For Christmas", "Jangle Bells", "Hello Christmas, Goodbye Year"), a Byrds meets Roy Orbison styled "The Spirit Of Christmas", an Edison Lighthouse and White Plains British Pop styled "My Baby Loves Christmas", a Jangleholic meets Jimmy Buffett exploration on "Christmas Vacation", the Les Fradkin and Raven Kane collaboration and Procol Harum influenced "A Christmas Gone Too Soon" and the song Les and collaborator Diana Haig originally wrote for The Drifters- "There Won't Be Christmas This Year....an anthem for the men and women in the Armed Forces of the USA.

For those people who love "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector" and Rickenbacker jangle, here's Something new for Christmas!

Les Fradkin's Jangle Rickenbacker 12-String Pop returns with a new release!

This new CD gives everyone a look at some of his newest music- drenched in hooks galore for fans of Beatles Pop and 70's AM radio Pop.

You'll also get to hear brand new versions of his origional MGM/Sunflower single "Song Of A Thousand Voices" and "You Can Cry If You Want" which has been a must have for 45RPM collectors for years. These songs have been unavailable for 35 years.

New songs this time out include "Under The Covers", an autobiographical followup to "Jangleholic." Other newies include "Through The Looking Glass" and "Take A Chance" which are slices of 60's & 70's Pop ear candy with hooks galore. His latest tune, "I Cry" promises to be one of his most covered compositions. Co-written with Amber Gomez of Venus In Bluejeans, this tune will grab you every time you hear it. All with Les' famous Rickenbacker 12-String guitar stylings mixed with his "sonic signature" production stamp.

Covers this time round include:
"Reflections Of My Life" (The Marmalade),
"Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" (The Fortunes)
"Montego Bay" (Bobby Bloom),
and
"I'd Love You To Want Me" (Lobo).

And as a surprise bonus, Les sings his famous French Mireille Mathieu hit.... in French! Arranged with a nod to the original Paul Mauriat ("Love Is Blue")arrangement in mind, Les brings his self-composed Mathieu classic into modern sound.

This release is pressed on special edition BLACK Colored CD's which reflect crimson burgundy in bright light.

One time Under The Covers and you'll be hooked.

http://www.cdbaby.com/lesfradkin12

Quite a premier for the opening night of "Accidental Icon:The Real Gidget Story." Met Jorjia Fox (CSI)!

Movie was wonderful and was especially elated at the great use of the music throughout the film.

Les Fradkin has placed 4 (that's right-4) songs in the
new documentary:
"Accidental Icon"-
The Real Gidget Story.

Les' Surf rock guitar instrumentals-
"A Day At The Beach"
"Kick Sand"
"Key West Sunset" and
"Hurricane Warning"
all from his CD "A Day At The Beach" are all featured in the One hour movie. In a press release revealed today by the documentary Producers:

“ACCIDENTAL ICON: THE REAL GIDGET STORY,” A Documentary
Writer/Director/Producer: Brian L. Gillogly
Executive Producer: Robert Masters (Master Communication)
World Premier: 6:30 pm, October 8, 2006, Malibu Celebration of Film
Venue: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University
Contact: Brian L. Gillogly / 310.832.3336 / briangillogly@cox.net

Oscar-winning actress Sally Field admits that Gidget was “my beginning and I loved her!” Former Motion Picture Academy President Frank Pierson calls Gidget as “a proto-feminist figure.” And says former U.S. Surf Champion Jericho Poppler Bartlow, “I remember thinking, `Gidget could do it…I know I can.’”

“ACCIDENTAL ICON: THE REAL GIDGET STORY,” a new one-hour documentary, will world premier on October 8, 2006, at the Malibu Celebration of Film festival. (Closing night film.) Visit www.MCOF.org for screening information and to reserve tickets.

Narrated by Jorja Fox (“CSI”) and produced by Brian L. Gillogly and Master Communication, the project explores the largely untold story of the real “Gidget,” Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, and how her account of surfing Malibu in the mid-50’s became the basis for a best-selling novel by her father Frederick Kohner. A half century later, “Gidget” is celebrated as an enduring Hollywood movie/TV franchise and a slice of Americana, with considerable impact on popular culture and the sport of surfing.

Surf legends and present-day “surfer girls” set the stage and take the Gidget story full circle. Prominent actors, writers and directors, many of whom brought Gidget to the big and small screen, provide an often enlightening behind-the-scenes perspective. Some of them include:

Sally Field-Oscar winning actor (TV’s “Gidget”)
Cliff Robertson-Oscar winning actor (“Kahuna”)
James Darren-Actor/Singer (“Moondoggie”)
Gregory Harrison- Actor (“Ed,” “North Shore”)
Caryn Richman-Actor (“The New Gidget” TV series)
Paul Wendkos-Prolific director ( “Gidget,” “Gidget Goes Hawaiian”)
Layne Beachly-Five-time World Surf Champion
Summer Romero-Current Women’s Longboard Surf Champion
Jericho Poppler Bartlow-Former US Surf Champion
Kassia Meador-Top Longboard Surfer/Roxy Model
Belen Kimble-Top Longboard Surfer
Carla Rowland-Malibu Surf Champion
Lance Carson-Surf Legend (”Endless Summer”)
Mike Doyle-Surf Legend/Former US Champion
Mickey Munoz-Surf Legend

Together with Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, a raconteur like her father, they weave an entertaining and ultimately life-affirming true account of a young girl coming of age amongst the waves at Malibu’s fabled Surfrider Beach—and how a somewhat idealized vision of that girl became a true American icon.

Perhaps former NBC VP Lin Bolen Wendkos says it best: “It’s a blast from the past! A story showcasing an eclectic group of surfers, then and now—and Kathy `Gidget’ Zuckerman, the surfer who spawned a whole movement of Surfer Girls and liberated a whole generation of young women. The film has cross-over demographics and charms audiences of all ages.”

You can buy these tunes at:
DISC COLLECTOR-
http://www.discol.com CD BABY-
http://www.cdbaby.com/lesfradkin2 AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/Day-Beach-Les-Fradkin-Get/dp/B00030MAH8/sr=1-7/qid=1157739703/ref=sr_1_7/104-1722877-9539921?ie=UTF8&s=music
You can download them across the internet.
For the iTunes link:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=18947501

It's out! Les Fradkin's newest CD-"If Your Memory Serves You Well" is a tribute to Bob Dylan and is now available at CD Baby, Amazon.com and other fine music stores across the Internet.

It's "Jangle Pop" for Modern Times.

With times changin at today's speeds, Bob Dylan fans can now hear something new from Les Fradkin, who has found great success with
"Single" download sales across the Internet.

In this new Jangle Pop 2006 release, the "Jangleholic" and his trusty Rickenbacker 12-String guitar are at it again! Les takes more than just a common tribute approach and reveals a unique perspective in the diverse influences that form the basis of a new sound for Bob Dylan's music. Byrds, Beatles, George Harrison, The Hollies, Phil Spector, Manfred Mann, Tom Petty and Dylan all blend together for a distinct journey through the Bob Dylan catalog. "This Wheels On Fire", "The Times They Are-A-Changin" will impress Byrds fans and Les' reading of "One Of Must Know" is a must hear as it takes Dylan into new sonic territory. Tom Petty fans will delight to his approach on "Absolutely Sweet Marie" and his fresh take on "Just Like A Woman" will suprise even those overly familiar with this Dylan hit.

This release is pressed on special edition PURPLE Colored CD's which reflect luminous violet in bright light.

Lot's of folks have been asking what the lyric is to the song "Jangleholic":

"There was a group from England had this sound, it took me on a trip, spun my head around, it was the chime, of the jangle in my mind...

Was flown further down the road by Byrds, who took some ageless rock and gave it words, it was the chime, of a new folk rock in rhyme

Turned me into a 12-string guy, with sounds so good it made me cry, set me up with an inspiration trick, became a Jangleholic....

Now in the 70's it was my time, I had a Broadway gig and made the climb, it was the chime, of the jangle in it's prime...

And then the Heartbreakers came along, they used the Jangle sound with a different song, they changed the chime, to a rockin' sound so fine.....

I got known for my 12-string shoes, with Beatle licks that made the news, set me up with a trip to stardom quick, for the
Jangleholic....

In the 80's it passed out of phase, the music synthesized for endless days, it was the time, of a jangle with no chime....

A new millenium has come to pass and now the jangle sound has got some class, it's now the time, for a drink of jangle wine...

Found a way to a happy heart, a music digitized in part, a hundred songs on iTunes you can pick, from the Jangleholic...

Yeah I'm the Jangleholic....

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!"

Words & Music by
Les Fradkin and Loretta Fradkin
©2006 RRO Enteertainment OBO Fradkin 2000 Music
Used and reprinted by permission.

Les' two new CD's- "Goin' Back" featuring guest appearances from Richie Furay, The Left Banke and Mick Ronson (guitarist for Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review),"Jangleholic" featuring "You Were On My Mind" and "Love You 2" (a brand new George Harrison tribute) are now all available for download at Apple iTunes. So get your iPod's ready cause several songs from these releases are essential adds to your download collection. See the Products page for diect links to these downloads.

Les' music can be downloaded at over 50 sites across the Internet.

Check out the Products page for direct links!

Take a new trip with the Jangle Pop release you'll want as a must have for 2006. This all new CD features Les' renowned Rickenbacker 12-String Guitar stylings with some special surprises!

On this CD, he offers a selection of great Jangle covers from songs that influenced him as a 12-string guitarist: "I Want You" ( Bob Dylan ), "You Were On My Mind" ( by The We Five ), "I'll Never Find Another You" ( by The Seekers ) and TWO Paul Simon songs from the Simon & Garfunkel Songbook- "A Hazy Shade Of Winter" and his electrfying cover of "The Dangling Conversation."

Les' original compositions on this CD range from brand new tunes such as "Arrow Thru Your Heart" to gems from his past such as "Still On My Way" (co-written with Raven Kane of Neil Diamond touring fame) and "Sometimes A Girl Must Carry On" which dates back all the way to his 1971 unreleased MGM/Sunflower album.

The title track, "Jangleholic" gives the listener a humorous account of Les' history with both the 12-string guitar and his days in Beatlemania.

This release is pressed on special edition GOLD Colored CD's which reflect lemon yellow in bright light.

Out Now! New for 2006! Les' newest George Harrison tribute CD entitled "Love You 2" featuring all of George Harrison's Beatles hits from 1962 through 1966. This landmark CD which will also be available for download wordwide, includes a brand new arrangement of "You Know What To Do" (a song which was featured by The Beatles only as a George demo on their "Anthology, Volume 1" as well as well known hits such as "Taxman", "If I Needed Someone", "Do You Want To Know A Secret", "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" plus new vocal versions of "Taxman", "I Need You", "If I Needed Someone" and "Think For Yourself."

New for 2006, Les has released "Goin' Back" which covers Les' Rickenbacker 12 string guitar stylings in Pop and Rock.
Beatles, Byrds, Dylan and Jangle music fans will love the sound of this release.

"Goin' Back" features many famous hits as well as originals that cover the history and importance of the 12-string both in music and Les' career.

This CD includes guest appearances by:

Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) on Richie's brand new song "Only To You" in a vocal and instrumental duest with Les!

Mike Brown, Tom Finn, Steve Martin & George Cameron (The Left Banke) on Les' song "I Could Make It Last Forever"- a historic session from 1972 remixed for today.

Mick Ronson ( former member of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review, David Bowie's Spiders from Mars and The Ian Hunter Band ) on "Spare Change", a historic track from 1980

Covers include:
"Goin' Back", "So You Want To Be A Rock and Roll Star", "Have I The Right?","I Can't Let Go", "When You Walk In The Room" ,"Walk Away Renee" plus Les' brand new Byrds-like cover of the seldom heard Bob Dylan song "I Don't Want To Do It." This track introduces a new sound for covering Bob Dylan's material which should thrill all Dylan and Byrds fans alike.

Available Now!

RRO Entertainment announces the release of Les Fradkin's new tribute to George Harrison CD- "Something for George"

Featuring 9 songs including a guest appearance from Richie Furay and Lon Van Eaton on "My Sweet Lord", this new release also includes:
"What Is Life",
"This Is Love",
"Awaiting On You All",
"You",
"Isn't It A Pity",
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Vocal Version),
"Here Comes The Sun"
(Vocal Version)"
plus a live in concert version of "Something" which Les performed at The Boulder Theater this past summer.

This CD is available at CD Baby and Amazon.com

See it at:
http://www.cdbaby.com/lesfradkin7