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"We believe Norah delivered a record that doesn’t stray far from the formula that made Come Away With Me such a phenomenal success. At the same time, the album showcases her growth as a songwriter and vocalist. We’ll let the music speak for itself and it should defy any limitations associated with sophomore efforts."
——Saul Shapiro, EMI Jazz & Classics VP Sales

KEEPING UP WITH JONES

Blue Note Roots Diva's Sophomore Effort Feels Like Home
She may be publicity-shy, but make no mistake about it. You’ll be seeing a lot more of Norah as the multi-Grammy winner prepares to release her sophomore album.

Norah Jones’ last record built slowly before exploding into something that has sold as many copies as Nirvana’s Nevermind, but Feels Like Home (Blue Note/Virgin) is being released with the accompanying fanfare of a star.

The disc streets Feb. 10, just two days after this year’s Grammy awards, where she’s nominated for a Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "Wurlitzer Prize (I Don’t Want To Get Over You)," a duet with Willie Nelson from his Lost Highway album Live and Kickin’.

Last year, of course, Jones was the award show’s big winner, taking home five Grammys herself, with the album landing a total of eight, including Album, Song and Record of the Year and Best New Artist. The label looks for the album to sell 550-600k its first week out after shipping close to 2.5 million. Expect to give or get a copy for Valentine’s Day.

Like her eight-times-platinum, multi-Grammy winning breakthrough, Come Away With Me, the album is produced by Arif Mardin, this time with Jones co-producing. Guests on the record include Dolly Parton, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of The Band, and "Don’t Know Why" writer Jesse Harris.

Jones co-wrote seven of the album’s 13 tracks, as well as covering songs by Townes Van Zandt, Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and Duke Ellington—she put original lyrics to the Ellington instrumental "Melancholia." The key to reaching Jones’ fans, and most upper-demo consumers, is to inform consumers that the record is out in non-traditional means.

Said EMI Jazz & Classics Sales VP Saul Shapiro before admitting he was hopping aboard the Reverend Al Sharpton for President bandwagon: "We believe Norah delivered a record that doesn’t stray far from the formula that made Come Away With Me such a phenomenal success. At the same time, the album showcases her growth as a songwriter and vocalist. We’ll let the music speak for itself and it should defy any limitations associated with sophomore efforts."

Some of the marketing/promotional initiatives include:

*First single, "Sunrise," went straight to the top of iTunes’ chart.

*Press includes features in Newsweek, USA Today, Tracks, LA Times, NY Times Magazine and Rolling Stone.

*Jones will be a presenter at this year’s Grammys, but will not perform.

*Scheduled TV appearances include the Tonight Show the day of release, Today Show (2/12), Letterman (2/23), The Daily Show (2/25), Conan (3/9) and more to come.

*TV ads will appear during Oprah, Good Morning America, and Today, and direct response TV ads are being run on cable.

*There will also be underwriting on National Public Radio.