Preview Anthony Callea's New Album, 'Thirty'

As we are just a couple of weeks away from the release of the new album from Anthony Callea, you can now preview all the songs on iTunes! 'Thirty' will be released on April 26, but you can listen to the preview, and pre-order your own copy. You can also pre-order an autographed copy of 'Thirty' from the online music store Sanity here. The album is a 12-song collection that is an interesting blend of music Anthony has been singing at some live performances, like "Get Here" and "When You Believe". It also includes some different songs, like Anthony soaring on "Nella Fantasia". You can preview 'Thirty' here.

As I said, there are a few of the songs that Anthony has performed live. One of those is the beautiful "Get Here", originally sung by Oleta Adams in 1990, and written by the talented Brenda Russell. In an interesting and unrelated side note, the Adams recording was produced by Roland Orzibal of Tears For Fears fame. And here is Anthony singing it live a few years ago, on an Australian television program.

There is also a clip on YouTube of Anthony singing the song with his handsome and talented partner, Tim Campbell. I have to admit I am a long-time fan of Anthony's amazing voice. Since I first came across a video of the Australian singing, I have been head-oever-heels in love with him. I had to buy his first two albums, as well as his recent EP. And how about that DVD of Anthony performing live? Yes, I've had them all. So you better believe I cannot wait to add this one to my playlist as well. Now if I can only convince him to play a show on the East Coast of the United States. For more about Anthony Callea, visit his official website. You can also "like" him on Facebook, or "follow" him on Twitter. Give a listen to the preview, and be sure to tell Anthony how much you loved it!

Worth Another Listen - Oleta Adams

While some might consider Oleta Adams to be a one-hit-wonder, she had, in fact, two songs make to on the American charts. Her soul and jazz-influenced vocals are quite distinctive, and she has often been heralded by critics as a voice that should be heard. She also has a more interesting story than many who have hit the charts. Legend has it that Ms. Adams was playing at a hotel bar in Kansas City, Missouri, when the band Tears For Fears was on an American tour in 1985. Both Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith thought she was very talented, and when recording their next album, contacted her and had Oleta join them in the studio. In support of the album The Seeds Of Love, she also toured with them. The single, Woman In Chains, was released in 1989 and made it to #36 on the US Billboard Hot 100, her first single.



Her next step was to get signed and to record her own music. In 1990, she released Circle of One, which had moderate success in sales until she released Get Here in 1991. That pushed the sales to the certified Gold level, and made it to #5 on the Billboard Pop chart. The song was written by singer/songwriter Brenda Russell, who later went on to write the music for the Broadway musical The Color Purple. She had previously record Get Here, but it was Oleta Adams who had the most success with the track.



Adams also had some success in the UK with a version of Elton John's Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me at the end of 1991. Two years later, she released I Just Had To Hear Your Voice, which also scored well with the British audience.



For more about Oleta Adams, check out her official website here. Adams released her latest album, Let's Stay Here, in 2009, once again receiving great praise for her work.