STEVE VAI

HDtracks.com Announces Deal To Sell STEVE VAI's Favored Nations

www.HDtracks.com, the new digital music store offering high definition audio, announced a deal to sell works from renowned guitarist STEVE VAI's Favored Nations record label.

In order to completely highlight the musical wizardry of the Favored Nations artists, HDtracks will make available albums from Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel, Andy Timmons, Eric Sardinas, Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm, the Yardbirds and others as CD-quality lossless FLAC and uncompressed AIFF files, as well as high resolution 320-kbps MP3 files. All three file formats are DRM-free and all HDtracks.com downloads are compatible for use with the majority of digital music playback devises.

Favored Nations was created by guitar virtuoso Steve Via with the intent of bringing music fans music that's energetic and emotional, with performances by artists of the highest caliber. The artists signed to Favored Nations are a unique, dedicated breed that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments.

Music enthusiasts will appreciate the inclusion of full liner notes and artwork with full-album purchases made from HDtracks. The unedited liner notes are included in PDF format allowing fans of Favored Nation's artists to learn about the musicians who contributed to the works and experience these albums with all the information originally provided with the releases.

About HDtracks...

Founded by David and Norman Chesky of the respected audiophile-record label Chesky Records, HDtracks is a high-quality music download service offering a diverse catalog of independent music from around the world. HDtracks does not believe in DRM, and as a result, offers a selection of unencrypted files that play on any computer or portable device. HDtracks recognizes that while there are significant benefits to accessing music at the touch of a button in today’s computer age, preserving sound quality and the visceral experience of the live music performance should remain a priority. The HDtracks mission is to deliver the whole package: world-class music, unrivaled sound, files that play in any environment, and liner notes that enhance appreciation of the artist and album. HDtracks sells works from more than 60 of the world’s best independent record labels and artists including Buckethead, Judas Priest, Mike Patton, Fear Factory, Blue Oyster Cult, Rollins Band, Bill Laswell, Steve Van Zandt, the Kinks, KayoDot, Coco Montoya, Elvin Bishop, Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan and more.

For currently available Favored Nations titles: www.hdtracks.com.

STEVE VAI - Introduces Naked Tracks

Guitar God STEVE VAI has issued the following press release:

Naked Tracks Vol. 1-5, is a series of recording packages that contain mixes of Steve’s songs without the lead guitars. They are offered as “play along tracks.” Included are select backing tracks from Passion And Warfare, Sex & Religion, Alien Love Secrets, Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone, Alive In An Ultra World, Real Illusions: Reflections and others.

Steve comments on the package: “Through the years, whenever I would mix my records I would usually do a mix of specific songs without the lead guitar. This allowed me to play along with the track or make loops to jam to, and because I figured perhaps someday maybe others would like to do the same. Voila! We have arrived at someday.

“Playing to these naked tracks, or creating loops of various sections, to endlessly meander over, is a phenomenal way to discover unique musical ideas from within yourself.

“When we are playing an instrument and our mind enters that exclusive elusive mental real estate of our own personal muse, it can result in a form of musical meditation.

“This series of play-along CDs is designed to help create an atmosphere of focus so you can shred yourself into a personally-induced inspirational nirvana.

“For the most part, the tracks in this series are presented in their original form with the lead guitar removed. In some cases I looped the solo sections to give you an opportunity to stretch out. I suggest you import these files into a sequencer program of sorts, (ProTools, Band, etc.) and create loops of various parts of the songs to jam over. It’s an excellent way to develop your inner musical ear.

“All 5 disks will be offered together in one package at various retail stores, through Vai.com, or can be downloaded by various tracks or volumes at any of the online digital stores (such as the iTunes Music Store.)”

Keep checking Vai.com in the coming weeks for the Naked Tracks mini-site with information about each track, as well as links to download the tracks, or order the 5-CD package.