Republic Records To Release Album Of '80s Covers As AMFAR Fundraiser

'The Time Is Now'

REPUBLIC RECORDS and MASS APPEAL are releasing a collection of classic hits from the 1980s featuring re-imagined and updated versions by contemporary artists in "The Time Is Now," a compilation album created specifically to benefit AMFAR, THE FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH on OCTOBER 7th.

The album’s first singleis ALOE BLACC's soulful take on MICHAEL JACKSON's “Billie Jean.” Those who pre-order the album receive a copy of the track instantly.
 
The album will also include a rendition of NEW ORDER’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” performed by SUGAR FOR SUGAR, consisting of SCARLETT JOHANSSON, JULIA HALTIGAN, HOLLY MIRANDA and KENDRA MORRIS. In addition, the band LOWER DENS provides their updated version of HALL & OATES’ “Maneater," while the pop rock group DNCE puts its stamp on TINA TURNER's “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” DITA VON TEESE and SEBASTIAN TELLIER revamp CULTURE CLUB's “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” while the songwriting duo MARIAN HILL performs WHITNEY HOUSTON’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).”
 
The artwork for the album cover was designed exclusively for AMfAR by BRITISH artist TRACEY EMIN.

"The Time Is Now" is the brainchild and labor of love of executive producers MICHELANGELO LACQUA, acclaimed music curator ANDY BOOSE and MASS APPEAL CEO PEGTER BITTENBENDER.
 
Said BITTENBENDER: “The 1980s was a decade of revolutionary changes in the music scene, with an explosion of new sounds and rhythms, the ascendance of MTV, and the emergence of new musical movements on both sides of the ATLANTIC,"

Added LACQUA: "Music also provided the soundtrack to people’s daily lives and was a source of inspiration and solace with the advent of HIV/AIDS."

Said BOOSE: “'The Time Is Now' is a music-driven call to action in support of AMFAR’s push to end HIV/AIDS in our lifetime.”

“'The Time Is Now' is a great example of our longstanding relationship with the music industry, and we are deeply grateful to the artists who graciously donated their time and talents to the making of this album,” said AMFAR CEO KEVIN ROBERT FROST. “With continued support for HIV research, we are confident that we will ultimately find a cure for the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS today.”
 
To mark the occasion of the album release, SOHO HOUSE held a multi-city record listening event in LONDON, NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES on SEPTEMBER 8th, which included special performances and appearances by the artists featured on the album, including BRAZILIAN GIRLS, LOWER DENS and THEOPHILUS LONDON.

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