Saturday, May 31, 2008

Touring - Earth Wind & Fire, George Clinton & P-Funk, Dolly Parton, more

Earth, Wind & Fire

  • 06/06 - 07/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Hilton
  • 06/10/08 - Temecula, CA - Pechanga Resort & Casino
  • 06/13 - 14/08 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Resort Casino
  • 06/15/08 - Stockton, CA - Bob Hope Theatre
  • 06/17/08 - Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center For The Arts
  • 06/19/08 - Santa Ynez, CA - Chumash Casino
  • 06/20/08 - Del Mar, CA - Del Mar Fairgrounds
  • 06/22/08 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
  • 06/24/08 - Livermore, CA - The Concerts At Wente Vineyards
  • 06/26/08 - Jacksonville, OR - Britt Festivals
  • 06/27/08 - Ridgefield, WA - The Amphitheater At Clark County
  • 06/28/08 - Woodinville, WA - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
  • 07/06/08 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest Grounds
  • 07/09/08 - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Theatre At Grand Prairie
  • 07/11/08 - San Antonio, TX - Majestic Theatre
  • 07/12/08 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
  • 07/14/08 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
  • 07/16/08 - Vienna, VA - Filene Center At Wolf Trap
  • 07/19/08 - Memphis, TN - Botanical Gardens
  • 07/20/08 - Greeneville, TN - Niswonger Performing Arts Center
  • 07/23/08 - Toledo, OH - Zoo Amphitheatre
  • 07/25/08 - Cincinnati, OH - Paul Brown Stadium
  • 07/26/08 - Cleveland, OH - Plain Dealer Pavilion
  • 07/27/08 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
  • 07/29/08 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
  • 07/31/08 - Binghamton, NY - Anderson Center For The Perf. Arts
  • 08/01/08 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
  • 08/02/08 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa / Event Ctr.
  • 08/05/08 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
  • 08/06/08 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest Grounds
  • 08/08 - 09/08 - Rama, ON - Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
  • 09/11/08 - Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
  • 09/28/08 - Huntsville, AL - Big Spring Park

George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
  • 06/01/08 - Salt Lake City, UT - Club Paladium
  • 06/03/08 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
  • 06/04/08 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
  • 06/05/08 - Los Angeles, CA - Crash Mansion LA
  • 06/06/08 - Santa Rosa, CA - Sonoma Co. Fairgrounds (Harmony Festival)
  • 06/07/08 - Benbow, CA - Benbow Lake State Recreation Area
  • 06/14/08 - Jackson, MS - Jubilee Jam
  • 07/05/08 - Nelson, OH - Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
  • 07/06/08 - Detroit, MI - Downtown Detroit New Center
  • 07/08/08 - New York, NY - B.B. King's Blues Club
  • 07/11/08 - Norman, OK - Riverwind Casino
  • 07/18/08 - Dewey Beach, DE - Bottle & Cork
  • 07/24/08 - Detroit Lakes, MN - Soo Pass Ranch (10,000 Lakes Festival)

Dolly Parton
  • 06/13/08 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Stadion
  • 06/14/08 - Malmo, Sweden - Malmo Stadion
  • 06/15/08 - Viborg, Denmark - Viborg Stadium
  • 06/17/08 - Kristiansand, Norway - Arena Sor
  • 06/19/08 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Ahoy' Rotterdam
  • 06/21/08 - Cork, Ireland - Docklands
  • 06/22/08 - Kilkenny, Ireland - Nowlan Park
  • 06/24 - 25/08 - Belfast, UK - Odyssey Arena
  • 06/27/08 - Glasgow, UK - S.E.C.C.
  • 06/28/08 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Evening News Arena
  • 06/29/08 - Glasgow, UK - S.E.C.C.
  • 07/01/08 - Nottingham, UK - Trent FM Arena
  • 07/02/08 - Birmingham, UK - The NIA
  • 07/04/08 - Cardiff, UK - Cardiff International Arena
  • 07/05 - 06/08 - London, UK - O2 Arena
  • 08/01/08 - San Diego, CA - Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
  • 08/03/08 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
  • 08/04/08 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
  • 08/05/08 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
  • 08/07/08 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena
  • 08/08/08 - Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater
  • 08/13/08 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre

Glen Campbell
  • 06/27/08 - West Wendover, NV - Peppermill Concert Hall
  • 06/28/08 - Coquitlam, BC - Red Robinson Theatre
  • 08/03/08 - Sweet Home, OR - Festival Grounds (Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home)
  • 08/21/08 - Santa Ynez, CA - Chumash Casino
  • 09/26/08 - Bowling Green, KY - Capitol Arts Center

Devo
  • 05/30/08 - Barcelona, Spain - Barcelona Forum
  • 06/26/08 - Brooklyn, NY - McCarren Park Pool
  • 06/27/08 - Boston, MA - Bank Of America Pavilion
  • 06/28/08 - Philadelphia, PA - Festival Pier At Penn's Landing
  • 07/31/08 - West Melbourne, Australia - Festival Hall
  • 08/01/08 - Moore Park, Australia - Hordern Pavilion
  • 08/04/08 - Adelaide, Australia - Thebarton Theatre
  • 08/06/08 - Perth, Australia - Metro City
  • 08/09/08 - Osaka, Japan - Festival Grounds
  • 08/10/08 - Tokyo, Japan - Chiba Marine Stadium

Romantics
  • 06/20/08 - Santa Cruz, CA - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
  • 06/28/08 - Mount Clemens, MI - Downtown (Stars & Stripes Festival)
  • 07/05/08 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion For The Perf. Arts
  • 07/25/08 - Grapevine, TX - Glass Cactus
  • 07/26/08 - Royalton, MN - Halfway Jam Festival Grounds
  • 07/31/08 - Catoosa, OK - Cherokee Casino
  • 08/02/08 - Park City, UT - Forum At The Canyons
  • 08/08/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Santa Fe Station Hotel & Casino
  • 08/16/08 - Cabazon, CA - Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
  • 08/23/08 - Skokie, IL - Skokie Park
  • 08/24/08 - Pueblo, CO - Colorado State Fair Grandstand
  • 08/29/08 - Memphis, TN - Delta Fair & Music Festival
  • 09/20/08 - Birmingham, AL - Alabama State Fair
  • 10/11/08 - Tupelo, MS - TBA

Richie Furay
  • 07/19/08 - New York, NY - B.B. King's Blues Club
  • 07/21/08 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater 1894

Read more...

You Can Help With New Book on the John Lennon

Michael Krauss is a former-producer for The Mike Douglas Show and the man who had the original idea of contacting John Lennon and Yoko Ono about appearing on the show. The idea resulted in the pair spending an entire week on the show as co-hosts.

Krauss is taking his memories of their appearances, along with pictures and other memorabilia, and putting together a coffee table book. What he needs to finish the project is some input from people who remember the broadcasts or have interesting insights or memories.

He is looking to do a focus group next week in or around Greenwich, Connecticut. If you are in the area and would like to participate or have any comments that you would like to send along to the author, please write his assistant at jack.mckean@gmail.com.

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Chart Watch - May 30, 2008

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current music charts. Chart highlights:

  • There seems to be two tracks for albums lately. They either burn bright in the first week and quickly fade away as what happened Def Leppard, Iron Maiden and George Michael, or they set in for the long hall like the Eagles and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (who have been on the top 100 30 and 31 weeks respectively). It looks like there may be two unexpected albums that may do the latter. Frank Sinatra's Nothing But the Best collection drops just two spots from two to four and Neil Diamond's Home Before Dark sits at number ten in its third week.
  • The only major debut of the week is Donna Summer's Crayons which premiers at number seventeen on the pop album and five on the R&B album charts. That's the highest she's had an album since 1980's On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II hit number one.
  • In Britain, the big veteran artist premier is a new collection from the Osmonds which starts at number eleven. The new one from Sparks also premiers at number 54
Previous week position noted in parenthesis.
Comprehensive

Top 100 Albums

Top 50 Singles
  • #8 (7) - 4 Minutes - Madonna

Top 25 Digital Songs
  • #8 (5) - 4 Minutes - Madonna

Top 25 Pop Catalog Albums

R&B

Top 50 R&B Albums

Top 50 R&B Songs

  • None

Top 10 R&B Catalog Albums

Country

Top 25 Country Albums

Top 25 Country Singles
  • #10 (6) - I Saw God Today - George Strait
  • #21 (19) - Every Other Weekend - Reba McEntire

Top 10 Country Catalog Albums

Rock

Top 10 Rock Albums
  • None

Top 10 Hard Rock Albums

Top 20 Mainstream Rock Tracks
  • #7 (7) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue
  • #15 (14) - Life is Beautiful - Sixx: A.M.

Adult Contemporary

Top 20 Adult Contemporary Tracks
  • #14 (15) - Busy Being Fabulous - Eagles
  • #15 (11) - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher - Michael McDonald

Dance

Top 25 Dance Club Play
  • #5 (2) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #8 (8) - This is Not Real Love - George Michael & Mutya
  • #10 (16) - Same Old Fucking Story - Cyndi Lauper
  • #12 (7) - Wanna Be Startin' Something - Michael Jackson with Akon
  • #19 (21) - Funplex - B-52's
  • #20 (25) - Rock With You - Janet (Jackson)
  • #25 (48) - Stamp Your Feet - Donna Summer

Top 10 Dance Singles Sales
  • #1 (1) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake

Jazz

Top 15 Jazz Albums

Top 15 Contemporary Jazz Albums




Americana

Music Association Top 40 Airplay



International

Top 100 British Albums

Top 100 British Singles
  • #3 (3) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #50 (49) - Pretty Amazing Grace - Neil Diamond
  • #59 (56) - Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
  • #82 (81) - I Don't Want To Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
  • #92 (-) - Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
  • #93 (48) - The Only One - Cure
  • #97 (-) - It's Like That - Run D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins

Top 100 Canadian Singles
  • #1 (1) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #65 (62) - I Thought I'd Seen Everything - Bryan Adams
  • #78 (80) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue
  • #79 (74) - I Saw God Today - George Strait
  • #89 (67) - Give It To Me - Madonna
  • #100 (-) - Supernatural Superserious - R.E.M.

Top 50 Australian Singles
  • #2 (2) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake

Top 100 Japanese Singles

  • #11 (7) - Miles Away - Madonna
  • #31 (11) - Set Your Heart - Cyndi Lauper
  • #47 (16) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake

Read more...

Evening Update - Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Page, Joan Jett

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters will be joining Paul McCartney for at least one song during his Liverpool concert on Sunday. McCartney has promised other surprises during the gig.


England's Sun is reporting that Michael Jackson was scheduled to be a surprise guest on the season finale of American Idol but pulled out the day before the show. He is quoted as saying "I can't do it. Everyone will hate me."

Joan Jett will be making a short appearance on a future episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as a "boss from hell" who gets murdered.

Jimmy Page has told Rolling Stone that the concept of bowing his guitar came from the father of actor David McCallum.

David McCallum, Sr. was a classically trained violinist who was in the studio while Page was recordings. "He said to me one day, 'Have you ever tried bowing the guitar?' I said it wouldn't work. The strings aren't arched over the guitar, the way they are on a violin.

"He said, 'Have a go.' He gave me a bow. I tried it and realised there was something in it."

Read more...

Friday, May 30, 2008

Set List - R.E.M. at the Hollywood Bowl

R.E.M. played the third gigs of their U.S. tour Thursday night at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and turned in what is reported to be a brilliant 2 hour/26-song show.

The group covered eight of the eleven cuts from Accelerate along with a number that have rarely or never been played live (i.e. Ignoreland from Automatic for the People). Even some previous-rockers were given an even harder edge (Circus Envy).

To sum it all up, Michael Stipe told the crowd, “Not bad for the third show on the tour, I guess.”

The set list:

  • Pretty Persuasion
  • Living Well Is the Best Revenge
  • What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
  • Sitting Still
  • Ignoreland
  • Man-Sized Wreath
  • Circus Envy
  • Drive
  • Accelerate
  • Hollow Man
  • Fall On Me
  • Houston
  • Electrolite
  • Final Straw
  • I’ve Been High
  • Let Me In
  • Losing My Religion
  • Horse to Water
  • Bad Day
  • Walk Unafraid
  • I’m Gonna DJ
  • Supernatural Superserious
  • The One I Love
  • Until the Day Is Done
  • Man On the Moon

Read more...

Afternoon Update - Prince, Shirley Bassey, Deep Purple, more

Radiohead is a bit upset with Prince at the moment. It seems that Prince and NPG Records have blocked any videos of the group's song Creep as performed by the Purple One at Coachella. Band member Ed O'Brien says he never even got to see it before they took it down.

Thom Yorke said, "Really? He's blocked it? Surely we should block it. Hang on a moment. Well, tell him to unblock it. It's our ... song."


Shirley Bassey is out of the hospital after emergency surgery on her stomach. Spokesman Paul Carey says she's "resting up and on the road to a full recovery".

Former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord will play with the group again at the Sunflower Jam, September 25, at London's Porchester Hall. It's the first time he's played with the group in a number of years.

The biggest conservative in an industry full of liberals, Ted Nugent, has gone political again with his new song I Am the NRA.

Metallica may not be returning to the Warner Brothers Group. Warner CEO Edgar Bronfman, Jr. recently said during a quarterly stockholders call that he would not comment on negotiations with the group.

Drummer Lars Ulrich told the industry site, The Pulse of Radio, that he's thrilled to be finishing out the contract with the conglomerate. "It's awesome. I mean, to be out of your record contract, it's exciting just because of, what are the new...and that's not anything disrespectful about the great bunch of people up at Warner Bros. Records, nut it's just exciting to be able to communicate directly with your fans, and having the opportunities to do it, you know. I think that's really exciting."

Here's an interesting group making the rounds this summer. KBM is made up of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, Allman Brothers bass player Oteil Burbridge and Max Creek guitarist Scott Murawski. They are already on the road and will continue until August 2.

Read more...

The Lowdown on the New Rick Springfield Album

Rick Springfield will release his first new album in four years, Venus in Overdrive, on July 29 via New Door Records/UMe.

Springfield says, "It is an album about love in all its forms, and since Venus is the goddess of love, it's called Venus in Overdrive. There is a lot of personal stuff in these songs but we have tried to craft them so they still have a universal voice. We are older, yet still teenagers, we have lost people we love and still love the people who are on our journey with us, we are angry at some of the crap in the world yet love our human failings."

"I think we should have called this CD 'Son of Working Class Dog.' It has the same kind of songs (from a slightly older perspective) and was as exciting to record ... writing and recording these songs has been the most fun I've had in the studio since the early '80s."

A number of the songs on the record have special meaning. The title tune is about and dedicated to his wife Barbara while Saint Sahara is about a real-life fan who attended many of Springfield's shows and recently passed away.

The new single, What's Victoria's Secret?, "is one of those titles that was waiting to be written and we just got there first. Matt came up with it and we wrote the song while we were doing 5 nights of shows in Milwaukee. I had some recording gear brought into my hotel room and we wrote it there at the haunted Pfister hotel, room 804. It's basically about the sexualization of women and how we as males, want that, but also resist it and mainly need to connect to women as human beings. It's a dichotomy that most men feel I think."

During the promotional push for the album, Springfield will be returning to his General Hospital role of Dr. Noah Drake/Eli Love for a short stint.

Read more...

First Video From Sergio Mendes' Encanto

Sergio Mandes' new album, Encanto, hits the shelves on June 10 via Concord and Starbuck's Entertainment. Here's the first video from the album, Funky Bahia, with guests Will.i.am and Siedah Garret.


Funky Bahia (Music Video) from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.


The track list for the album:
  • The Look of Love (with Fergie)
  • Funky Bahia (with Will.I.Am & Siedah Garret)
  • Waters of March (with Ledisi)
  • Odo-Ya (with Carlinhos Brown)
  • Somewhere in the Hills (O Morro Nao Tem Vez) (with Natalie Cole)
  • Lugar Comun (with Jovanotti)
  • Dreamer (with Lani Hall & Herb Alpert)
  • Morning in Rio
  • Y Vamos Ya (Let's Go) (with Juanes)
  • Catavento (Catavento E Girassol) (with Gracinha Leporace)
  • Acode (with Vanessa Da Mata)
  • Agua De Beber (with Will.I.Am)
  • Les Eaux De Mars (Waters of March) (with Zap Mama) (Bonus Track)
  • E Vamos La (...Let's Go) (Bonus Track)
For more information, see our original story from March 26.

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Evening Update - Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, more

Elvis Costello played a surprise/secret show last night (May 28) at Los Angeles' El Ray Theatre after he was done with his opening show for the Police. Amazingly, when he asked the crowd who was seeing him for the second time today, a few people clapped, meaning that they left the Police to see Costello.

The 27-song marathon set lasted well into the night and ended with the singing of Happy Birthday to Jonathan Rice, who joined Costello on stage along with drummer Pete Thomas and daughter Tennessee Thomas.


Nick Cave has told the town where he grew up, Victoria, Australia, that he wants to build a statue in their town, but it's not any old statue. It's a semi-nude statue of Nick himself on horseback.

Cave is looking to raise the $50,000 needed to put up the statue as he didn't feel he could ask the town to foot the bill.

A documentary on Patti Smith's life from 1996 to 2007 will see a U.S. release in the latter part of the year. Dream of Life, directed by Steven Sebring, will begin to tour the country in September with a DVD release to follow.

A film based on the life of Colonel Tom Parker is set to be made into a movie. Producing will be David Pemut and Steve Binder who, interestingly, was one of the producers on Elvis' 1968 comeback special. The Colonel is based on the book The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash.

It's truth or not time from the National Enquirer. In the latest issue, Las Vegas promoter Jack Wishna says that Michael Jackson is in no shape to perform in Las Vegas or anywhere.

"Sadly, Michael's incapable of keeping promises, because he hasn't got the will to even show up anywhere, much less get himself into shape for a world-class performance. He might drop by to wave at guests, or do a dance on top of a limo, but a longterm show? That dream will never come true, I'm afraid."

The Museum of Bethel Woods opens on June 2 and will house films, pictures and artifacts from the Woodstock festival.

Read more...

Gigwise's Greatest Drummers of All-Time

Yesterday it was guitar songs (via Rolling Stone). Today, we get the list of the greatest drummers of all-time. This time around, the list comes from England's Gigwise and they have pared their list down to fifty.

Here are the top twenty from the list.

  1. John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
  2. Keith Moon (Who)
  3. Danny Carey (Tool)
  4. Neil Peart (Rush)
  5. Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins)
  6. Buddy Rich
  7. Rick Allen (Def Leppard)
  8. Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Asia)
  9. Gene Krupa
  10. Phil Collins (Genesis)
  11. Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Knack, Missing Persons)
  12. Stewart Copeland (Police)
  13. Ginger Baker (Cream, Blind Faith)
  14. Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
  15. Bill Bruford (King Crimson, Yes)
  16. Dave Grohl (Nirvana)
  17. Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
  18. Tommy Aldridge (Black Oak Arkansas, Pat Travers, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake)
  19. Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
  20. Joey Jordison (Slipknot)
To see the entire list and the rational behind the picks, go to the Gigwise site.

Read more...

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Eddie Floyd Readies Album For Stax

60's soul belter Eddie Floyd will release his new album, Eddie Loves You So, on July 29 via Stax Records.

The album is filled with songs that Floyd wrote for himself and other artists in the 50's and 60's. The track list includes (but not in the correct running order):

  • You're So Fine - Floyd's breakthrough hit with the Falcons
  • Since You've Been Gone - Written for the Falcons but never released
  • Never Get Enough Of Your Love - A Floyd track recorded post-Falcons, pre-Stax
  • Til My Back Ain't Go No Bone - Recorded by William Bell and, later, Esther Phillips
  • I Will Always Have Faith in You - A hit for Carla Thomas
  • You Don't Know What You Mean to Me - An R&B hit for Sam & Dave, co-written by Steve Cropper
  • I Don't Want to Be With Nobody But You - Recorded by Dorothy Moore
  • Consider Me - An older album track for Floyd
  • Close to You - New song
  • Head to Toe - New song
All of the songs are newly recorded by Floyd and produced by Michael Dinallo and Ducky Carlisle.

In a press release, Dinallo talked about working with Floyd. "Working with Eddie and getting to know him by making this record has been a complete joy. Eddie's energy and enthusiasm has been and continues to be incredibly inspiring. Ducky and I were floored when he started singing. The sound of his voice coming back over the speakers gave us chills and made us howl with delight. In choosing the songs for this record, it hit me that I was surveying the history of soul music by digging through Eddie's catalog of the past 50 years. With current neo-soul movement, it is only appropriate that one of the genre's most important and influential songwriter and performer steps to the front with this record."

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3-DVDs of Live 60's-Era James Brown Coming From Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory has announced an August 5 release date for I Got the Fellin': James Brown in the 60's DVD box set.

The 3-DVD set starts with the director's cut of The Night James Brown Saved Boston, a documentary on Brown's appearance on April 5, 1968 at the Boston Garden, the night after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. To keep the peace in the city, the local PBS station broadcast the concert live and Brown rose to the occasion, putting on a mesmerizing show. This film includes the concert plus interviews with members of Brown's group, the Reverend Al Sharpton and other city politicians.

Disc two contains the uncut version of the April 5, 1968 concert as broadcast on Boston's WGBH. Also included is additional audio from the radio simulcast and interviews with the production team for the special.

The last disc has James Brown Live in the 60's - The T.A.M.I. Show and James Brown Live at the Apollo Theater 1968. The latter is from a series of concerts Brown did at the Apollo in March of 1968 and was originally broadcast as Man To Man.

Also included in the package will be a deluxe booklet, TV spots and additional interviews. MSRP will be $39.95.

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Afternoon Update - Sean Levert, New Edition, Deep Purple, more

An inquiry has ruled that singer Sean Levert died of natural causes last March 30 while in jail serving a 22-month sentence for failing to pay child support.

The coroner said Levert died of complications from an existing lung disease, sarcoidosis, which leaves small lumps on body organs. He also had heart disease, high blood pressure and was withdrawing from anti-anxiety drugs.


New Edition will be honored with the ASCAP Golden Note Award at the organizations 21st annual Rhythm & Blues Music Awards on June 23. The award is given to "songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones."
The Deep Purple 4-DVD box set that was released in the U.K. last month will finally see a U.S. release on June 17 via Eagle Rock Entertainment. For a full rundown on the set, including track listings, see our February 28 article.

Steven Tyler has issued a statement to TMZ on his rehab, blaming it on recent surgery on his feet.

"The doctors told me the pain in my feet could be corrected but it would require a few surgeries over time. The 'foot repair' pain was intense, greater than I'd anticipated. The months of rehabilitative care and the painful strain of physical therapy were traumatic. I really needed a safe environment to recuperate where I could shut off my phone and get back on my feet. Make no mistake, Aerosmith has no plans to stop rocking. There's a new album to record, then another tour."

According to a report on England's Gigwise, Rod Stewart's 30-page rider for his tour includes two oxygen tanks, 48 soccer balls to kick into the crowd and $16,000 worth of food per day for the crew.

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Germs Biopic Gets U.S. Distribution

The biopic of 70's L.A. punk group the Germs will finally make its way to U.S. screens starting in August. A distribution deal was signed with Peace Arch Entertainment for showing What We Do Is Secret in, at a minimum, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Rodger Grossman spent ten years trying to get the film made. The final product stars Shane West (ER, Once & Again) as Darby Crash. Crash died of a drug overdose in 1980.

In a 2005 Billboard interview, director Grossman said of West, "He committed to doing this role in a way that I've never seen an actor commit to do anything. He read all the books that Darby read. He got blue contacts and prosthetic teeth permanently affixed to his, which had to be 'chipped out' so his teeth were more like Darby's." West was so good that he went on to tour with the reformed group as lead singer in recent years.

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Evening Update - David Byrne, Rush, Robyn Hitchcock

David Byrne will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Annual Webbys which honor the best of on-line content. The award recognizes him for his work in bringing multimedia culture to the masses through his internet radio station, blog and art.


Rush donated $100,000 from a recent concert in Winnipeg, Canada to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. The museum is set to open in 2010.

The second multi-disc career retrospective set from Robyn Hitchcock is scheduled for release on August 5 from Yep Rock records. This time around, the set concentrates on Hitchcock's post-Soft Boys days with the Egyptians. Luminous Groove will be a 5-CD or 8-LP set.

Hitchcock said in a statement, “It’s odd for me to think of the 1980s as being in the past. Back then, they were a baleful future that we refugees from the 1960s were marooned in. I never thought I’d get out alive from Reagan, Thatcher and shoulder pads. But time wins again.”

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Touring - Bette Midler, Ted Nugent, Roberta Flack, more

Bette Midler

  • 06/24 - 29/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 07/01 - 06/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 07/08 - 13/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 07/15 - 20/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 10/07 - 12/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 10/14 - 15/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 10/17 - 19/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 11/11 - 12/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 11/14 - 16/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 11/25 - 26/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 11/28 - 30/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 12/02 - 03/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 12/05 - 07/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 12/09 - 10/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace
  • 12/30 - 31/08 - Las Vegas, NV - Colosseum At Caesars Palace

Ted Nugent
  • 06/07/08 - Sandusky, OH - Ohio Bike Week
  • 06/09/08 - Phoenix, AZ - Celebrity Theatre
  • 06/10/08 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
  • 06/12/08 - Bakersfield, CA - Majestic Fox Theater
  • 06/13/08 - Pozo, CA - Pozo Saloon
  • 06/14/08 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
  • 06/15/08 - West Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues
  • 06/17/08 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
  • 06/18/08 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
  • 06/19/08 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
  • 06/20/08 - Agoura Hills, CA - Canyon Club
  • 06/21/08 - Kelseyville, CA - Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa - Showroom
  • 07/03/08 - Naperville, IL - Knoch Park (Naperville Ribfest)
  • 07/04/08 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
  • 07/07/08 - Helsinki, Finland - Cable Factory
  • 07/08/08 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Tradgaarn
  • 07/09/08 - Malmo, Sweden - KB Club
  • 07/10/08 - Bad Arolsen, Germany - Magic Circle Festival Arena
  • 07/11/08 - Zaragoza, Spain - Feria De Zaragoza (Monsters Of Rock)
  • 07/12/08 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
  • 07/13/08 - Weert, Netherlands - Sportpark Boshoven (Bospop)
  • 07/14/08 - London, UK - IndigO2
  • 07/18/08 - Durant, OK - Choctaw Casino & Resort
  • 07/19/08 - Miami, OK - Buffalo Run Casino
  • 07/20/08 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
  • 07/21/08 - West Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom
  • 07/23/08 - London, ON - Harris Park (Rock The Park Festival)
  • 07/24/08 - Enoch, AB - Edmonton Marriott River Cree Resort
  • 07/25/08 - Coquitlam, BC - Boulevard Casino
  • 07/26/08 - Tacoma, WA - Emerald Queen Casino
  • 07/27/08 - Kellogg, ID - Silver Mountain Amphitheater
  • 07/28/08 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
  • 07/30/08 - Davenport, IA - Mississippi Valley Fair
  • 07/31/08 - Saint Louis, MO - The Pageant
  • 08/01/08 - Tulsa, OK - Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino
  • 08/02/08 - Fort Worth, TX - Billy Bob's Texas
  • 08/03/08 - Waco, TX - Zack & Jim's Hog Creek Icehouse
  • 08/05/08 - Jackson, MI - Jackson County Fair
  • 08/08/08 - Maumee, OH - Lucas County Fairgrounds Grandstand
  • 08/09/08 - Columbus, OH - Ohio State Fair
  • 08/10/08 - Hamburg, NY - The Fairgrounds
  • 08/12/08 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theatre
  • 08/13/08 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
  • 08/14/08 - De Pere, WI - Brown County Fair
  • 08/15/08 - Beaver Dam, WI - Dodge County Fair
  • 08/17/08 - Winter Park, CO - Winter Park Resort (Hawgfest)
  • 08/19/08 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
  • 08/20/08 - Clifton Park, NY - Northern Lights
  • 08/21/08 - Jim Thorpe, PA - Penn's Peak
  • 08/22/08 - Big Flats, NY - The Summer Stage At Tag's
  • 08/23/08 - Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
  • 08/24/08 - Westbury, NY - Capital One Bank Th. At Westbury
  • 08/26/08 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live!
  • 08/28/08 - Syracuse, NY - New York State Fair
  • 08/29/08 - Essex Junction, VT - Champlain Valley Expo Grandstand
  • 08/30/08 - Seven Springs, PA - Seven Springs Resort
  • 08/31/08 - Indianapolis, IN - Military Park (Rib America Festival)
  • 09/26 - 27/08 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Resort Casino

Roberta Flack
  • 06/07/08 - Columbia, MD - Capital Jazz Fest
  • 06/13/08 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival At Ravinia Park
  • 07/18/08 - Baltimore, MD - Artscape
  • 08/06/08 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - HSBC Brasil
  • 08/07/08 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Vivo Rio
  • 08/08/08 - Curitiba, Brazil - Positivo
  • 08/09/08 - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Pepsi On Stage
  • 08/13/08 - New York, NY - Lincoln Center For The Perf. Arts
  • 09/25/08 - Washington, DC - Ronald Reagan Intl. Trade Ctr.
  • 10/18/08 - Omaha, NE - Holland Performing Arts Center

Neil Sedaka
  • 07/12/08 - Ocean Grove, NJ - Great Auditorium
  • 07/23/08 - Westbury, NY - Capital One Bank Th. At Westbury
  • 07/25 - 26/08 - Windsor, ON - Caesars Windsor
  • 09/05 - 06/08 - Onamia, MN - Grand Casino Mille Lacs
  • 09/13/08 - Saint Charles, IL - Arcada Theatre
  • 09/19 - 20/08 - Rama, ON - Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
  • 09/24/08 - New Wilmington, PA - Orr Auditorium
  • 09/26/08 - Rahway, NJ - Union County Performing Arts Center
  • 09/27/08 - North Bethesda, MD - Music Center At Strathmore
  • 10/11/08 - Saint Louis, MO - Blanche M. Touhill PAC
  • 10/24/08 - Coquitlam, BC - Red Robinson Theatre
  • 12/01/08 - Columbia, MO - Jesse Auditorium
  • 02/01/09 - Birmingham, AL - Alys Stephens Ctr. For Perf. Arts
  • 02/05 - 07/09 - Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre Southam Hall
  • 04/19/09 - Airway Heights, WA - Northern Quest Casino
  • 04/25/09 - Galveston, TX - Grand Opera House

Tony Joe White
  • 05/30/08 - Nashville, TN - Frist Center For The Visual Arts
  • 06/08/08 - Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Chicago Blues Festival)
  • 06/10/08 - West Hollywood, CA - Key Club
  • 06/11/08 - Santa Cruz, CA - Moe's Alley
  • 06/12/08 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
  • 06/13/08 - Nicasio, CA - Rancho Nicasio
  • 06/25/08 - New York, NY - Joe's Pub
  • 06/28/08 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
  • 07/11/08 - Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe
  • 07/12/08 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's Uptown
  • 07/17/08 - Birmingham, AL - WorkPlay Theatre
  • 07/19/08 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic
  • 08/30/08 - Copper Mountain, CO - TBA

Mick Fleetwood Band
  • 06/11/08 - Los Angeles, CA - The Avalon
  • 06/12/08 - San Diego, CA - Spreckels Theatre
  • 06/14/08 - Snowmass, CO - Fanny Hill
  • 06/15/08 - San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theatre

Gladys Knight
  • 06/21 - 22/08 - Nassau, Bahamas - Rain Forest Theatre
  • 06/26/08 - Charleston, WV - Clay Center For The Arts & Sciences
  • 06/27/08 - Hampton, VA - Hampton Coliseum
  • 06/29/08 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Resort Casino
  • 06/30/08 - Ottawa, ON - Confederation Park (Ottawa Jazz Festival)
  • 07/03/08 - Valley Center, KS - Kansas Coliseum
  • 07/04/08 - Bossier City, LA - Horseshoe Casino
  • 07/05/08 - Robinsonville, MS - Grand Casino Tunica
  • 07/09 - 10/08 - Windsor, ON - Caesars Windsor
  • 07/11 - 12/08 - Country Club Hills, IL - Country Club Hills Theatre
  • 07/13/08 - Saint Louis, MO - Fabulous Fox Theatre
  • 07/18/08 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Civic Ctr. Theatre
  • 07/19/08 - Vienna, VA - Filene Center At Wolf Trap
  • 08/01/08 - Westbury, NY - Capital One Bank Th. At Westbury
  • 08/02/08 - Ocean Grove, NJ - Great Auditorium
  • 08/03/08 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion
  • 08/05/08 - Nashville, TN - Wildhorse Saloon
  • 08/07/08 - Asheville, NC - Biltmore
  • 08/08 - 09/08 - Atlantic City, NJ - Tropicana Casino & Resort
  • 08/16/08 - Park City, UT - Deer Valley Resort Amphitheatre
  • 08/17/08 - Reno, NV - San Rafael Park (Reno-Tahoe Blues Festival)
  • 09/04 - 05/08 - Santa Fe, NM - Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino
  • 09/17/08 - Lemoore, CA - Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino
  • 09/19/08 - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion At Concord
  • 09/20/08 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
  • 09/21/08 - Valley Center, CA - Harrah's Rincon Casino &
  • 09/30/08 - Rogers, AR - John Q. Hammons Center

Tom Paxton
  • 06/01 - 08/08 - Vancouver, BC - TBA
  • 06/20/08 - Annandale, VA - Mason District Park
  • 06/21/08 - Huntington, NY - Huntington Summer Arts
  • 07/13/08 - Westminster, MD - Common Ground
  • 08/16/08 - Schwenksville, PA - Old Pool Farm (Philadelphia Folk Festival)
  • 08/23 - 24/08 - Garden City, KS - Tumbleweed Festival
  • 09/28/08 - Skokie, IL - TBA
  • 10/10/08 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
  • 10/24/08 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
  • 10/25/08 - Middlebury, VT - United Methodist Church
  • 11/01/08 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmere
  • 11/14/08 - Peekskill, NY - Paramount Center For The Arts
  • 01/16 - 18/09 - Portland, OR - First Unitarian Church Of Portland
  • 05/01/09 - Newberry, SC - Newberry Opera House
  • 05/09/09 - White Plains, NY - Walkabout Clearwater Coffeehouse

Read more...

Track List Announced for Sex Pistols' There'll Always Be an England

As we reported back on April 4, the Sex Pistols will be releasing a live DVD of their reunion shows at London's Brixton Academy. The Sex Pistols: There Will Always Be an England is set for a June 30 release date and has the entire show along with 98 minutes of extras, including a bonus film with the group members visiting London locations that were integral to the history of Punk.

The stories from a number of sources today only mention the DVD and not the CD release as was initially discussed.

The song list:

  • Pretty Vacant
  • Seventeen
  • No Feelings
  • New York
  • Did You No Wrong
  • Liar
  • Beside The Seaside
  • Holidays In The Sun
  • Submission
  • (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone
  • No Fun
  • Problems
  • God Save The Queen
  • EMI
  • Bodies
  • Anarchy In The UK

Read more...

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs

Rolling Stone is back with another list. This time it is included in the new issue of the magazine and chronicles the editor's choices for the 100 greatest guitar songs of all-time.

Of the top twenty, listed below, every track is by a veteran artist except for Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix both score two in the top twenty.

  1. Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
  2. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix Experience
  3. Crossroads - Cream
  4. You Really Got Me - Kinks
  5. Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
  6. Eruption - Van Halen
  7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles
  8. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
  9. Statesboro Blues - Allman Brothers Band
  10. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
  11. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
  12. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix Experience
  13. Layla - Derek & the Dominoes
  14. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
  15. My Generation - Who
  16. Cowgirl in the Sand - Neil Young with Crazy Horse
  17. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
  18. Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones
  19. Purple Rain - Prince & the Revolution
  20. People Get Ready - Impressions
To see the entire list, get the latest edition of Rolling Stone or go to their web page.

Read more...

Afternoon Update - Bono, Beatles, Bootsy Collins, Sex Pistols

Welcome to graduation season. Bono received an honorary degree from Keio University in Japan for his contribution to music and humanitarian causes.


On the April 11, 1964 Billboard singles chart, the Beatles held fourteen positions. This week, American Idol winner David Cook takes a shot at that record and comes up just a little short as he premiers eleven titles on the top 100, led by The Time of My Life which moved 236,000 digital downloads to land at number three.

On the upcoming album charts, Frank Sinatra leads the pack for veteran artists for a second week as his Nothing But the Best compilation moves 54,000 copies, dropping it from two to four. Neil Diamond's Home Before Dark spends it's third week in the top ten, dropping seven to ten with sales of 36,000.

The highest debut by a veteran artist is Donna Summer's Crayons which opens at number seventeen, moving 23,000 copies.

Album sales were down 13.3% over the same week last year.

Bootsy Collins has written and recorded the original theme music for the new video game Don King Presents: Prizefighter. The game also uses music from different eras to set the tone with over 70 tracks used from the likes of Survivor, Run-D.M.C. and James Brown.

Sex Pistol John Lydon says he thinks he can help Britney Spears with her problems.

Lydon told Britain's Sun newspaper, “I haven’t written a song for Britney yet but I would love to. I’d like to help out because there’s a girl who needs some help.”

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Radio's Norm N. Nite & Todd T. Taylor to Auction Memorabilia Collections

Two radio greats will be auctioning off their extensive memorabilia collections starting June 22 through Backstage Auctions.

Norm N. Nite is not only a veteran broadcaster who has worked at such giants as New York's WCBS-FM and Cleveland's WGAR, but is also the author of two classic books on popular music with his Rock On series. Among the auction items is his personal copy of the first book with autographs from over 125 rock greats, including John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Sir George Martin, Keith Richards, Dick Clark and many more.

Also included is Nite's vinyl collection with a strong emphasis on Doo Wop and vocal groups, original interview recordings with some of rock's greatest, concert footage, promotional music films and much more.

Todd T. Taylor, who is now the head of the Radio and Television Broadcaster's Hall of Fame, is auctioning his collection of 5,000 LPs and 15,000 singles which includes vintage rock, R&B, soul, pop and surf.

In the case of both men's vinyl collections, there are many rare white label promo copies.

A special preview starts at the auction house's website on June 15 with the auction running June 22 to June 29.

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Original Members of Simple Minds Going Back Into the Studio

The original members of Simple Minds (Brian McGee, Derek Forbes, Mick McNeil, Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill) have announced on their website that they are going back into the studio in mid-June to record "at least two new tracks that could be released later this year."

The group is viewing the week of recording as a "nice experiment" to celebrate their 30th anniversary and will simply "see what happens."

Jim Kerr stated on the website, "Of course I am excited with the prospect of working with the original line-up once more. I had always believed that the day would come when we would get the opportunity to do so. The last time we worked together was on our Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call album, featuring songs like The American, Themes for Great Cities, Love Song etc, and it is still considered by many as among our best ever work. We have a lot to live up to, but we intend to have some fun attempting to do just that."

The group, who are best known for their chart topping Don't You (Forget About Me), has never really stopped working, but the original line-up has not recorded together since 1981. McGee left the group in 1981, Forbes in 1985 and McNeil in 1989 while Kerr and Burchill have worked with a revolving door of supporting musicians through to today.

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Evening Update - Sammy Hagar, Pink Floyd, Queen, more

A couple more names have emerged who will participate in the new Sammy Hagar/Michael Anthony group. Codenamed Chickefoot, the group will also include Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Pepper drummer Chad Smith. They plan on entering the studio in September.

Hager boasted, "We've written eight, nine songs. When people hear the music, it's Led Zeppelin. It's as good as that. I know that's a mighty bold statement... We could rival Zep."


David Gilmour has told BBC6 that there is a possibility of a one-off gig for Pink Floyd, although he doubts there would ever be a reunion tour.

"Who knows? Who knows the future? I haven't absolutely said 'no' to the possibility but I think that in reality any sort of long-term thing together is not going to happen.

"We did the one-off thing and that was probably enough for me but we shall see. At my incredibly advantaged age, having achieved this, I've earned the right to sit on my ass for a little while and consider what to do next."

Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen have completed a previously unfinished track from Beach Boy Dennis Wilson. Holy Man was left behind when Wilson drowned nearly 25 years ago.

May told Britain's Daily Express, "It was a song that Dennis had begun shortly before he died but never finished. Beautiful piano playing, wonderful spiritual feel, the whole track spoke to me like a poem and seemed to be steeped in the spirit of this mysterious man, the Beach Boy who surfed.

"I wanted to do my bit to realize it to the full. Roger loved it, too, added his voice to the harmonies and did some nice percussion so the whole thing now has a subtle Queen overtone."


Billy Powell, keyboard player for Lynyrd Skynyrd, underwent an emergency partial hip replacement last week. He is expected back with the group in July, although he will have to wear a hip brace for the next three months.

On the talk shows this week:
  • Wednesday
    • Journey - Ellen Degeneres Show
    • Prince - Tonight Show with Jay Leno (repeat)
    • Jon Bon Jovi - Late Night with Conan O'Brien (repeat)
  • Thursday
    • Carole King - Tavis Smiley (repeat)
  • Friday
    • Donna Summer - Today Show
  • Saturday
    • Van Morrison - Austin City Limits

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Set List - Diamond Opens World Tour in Rotterdam

Neil Diamond opened his world tour on Saturday night at the Ahoy Rotterdam arena in the Netherlands.

Variety has posted the set-list from the show and it is an interesting mix of Diamond old and new. Four songs in the set came from the new album, Home Before Dark; however, he performed none from the previous 12 Songs LP. While most of the favorites were there, also included were some rarities from his days at Uni, including the introspective Brooklyn Roads from the 1968 Velvet, Gloves and Spit album along with Done Too Soon and Crunchy Granola Suite.

The set list as reported by Variety:

  • One More Bite Of The Apple > Holly Holy
  • Street Life
  • Beautiful Noise
  • Lady Oh
  • If You Know What I Mean
  • Cherry Cherry
  • Thank The Lord For The Nighttime
  • Hello Again
  • Love On The Rocks
  • Home Before Dark
  • Don't Go There
  • Pretty Amazing Grace
  • Crunchy Granola Suite
  • Done Too Soon
  • Forever in Blue Jeans
  • Brooklyn Roads
  • I Am I Said
  • Solitary Man
  • I'm A Believer
  • You Don't Bring Me Flowers
  • Song Sung Blue
  • Man Of God
  • Hell Yeah
  • Sweet Caroline
  • Cracklin' Rosie
  • America
  • Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Labelle Recording First New Album in 32 Years

Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash are back in the studio recreating the magic that is Labelle. The trio is expected to complete their new album, the first in 32 years, in June with a targeted release in the fall.

The group first came together in 1962 when Patricia Holt (soon to be Labelle) and Cindy Birdsong of the Ordettes and Wynona Hendryx and Sara Dash of the Del Capris formed a new group called the BlueBelles. The group's first hit, I Sold My Heart to the Junkman, may or may not have actually been the original lineup. Some say that a rival group, the Starlets, actually recorded the song although it was released under the BlueBelles name. Others say that it is Labelle on the lead but that her vocal was overdubbed. Either way, the song went to number 13 on the R&B charts and 15 on the pop charts in mid-1962.

Their next release, Down the Aisle (Wedding Song) was definitely Labelle and group and it peaked at number 14 on R&B. They became known for their sentimental pop style after hitting with standards You'll Never Walk Alone and Danny Boy in the mid-60's.

In 1967, Cindy Birdsong left for the Supremes and the trio spent the next few years cutting albums that mixed R&B, pop and a little country, covering artists from the Who to Kenny Rogers. It wasn't until 1974, though, that the group finally broke big with Lady Marmalade which topped both the pop and R&B charts.

Two years later, the group broke up to pursue solo careers with the album Chameleon being their last recording, until now.

The new album is being produced by three powerhouses, Lenny Kravitz and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Hendryx has said the trio still has the innate ability to "pull together as sisters and 'Labelle-ize' the music and the vibe and the spiritual side of what we do like nobody else on the planet."

"The timing for us getting together was perfect. About a year and a half ago we met in the studio to record a tribute to civil rights icon Rosa Parks and we just felt in our bones it was time to do this. We're going to bring to the fans everything they've been asking for. We haven't lost our edge."

Labelle adds, "The thread that always runs through is that we're sisters and we'll always be sisters."

"I think all you gotta say is 'we're here.' We're like that caged bird. If you love it, you open the door and let it fly because you know it's going to come back stronger. Well, we're back, baby. Anyone that knows Labelle knows we don't know how to hold anything back."

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Afternoon Update - Shirley Bassey, Alabama, Jimmy McGriff, more

Dame Shirley Bassey is recovering in a Monaco hospital after emergency surgery for "an emergency operation to relieve stomach complications, after complaining of abdominal pain."

Bassey is expected to be better for the Nelson Mandella 90th Birthday celebration next month in Hyde Park London.


Randy Owens, ex-lead singer for Alabama, has signed with Nashville's Broken Bow Records and will release his new album, One on One, on November 11. John Rich of Big and Rich produced.

In addition, Alabama will be honored with a bronze statue in their hometown of Fort Payne. The unveiling will take place on June 7.

Jazz and blues organist Jimmy McGriff passed away Saturday from multiple sclerosis at the age of 72.

McGriff was multi-talented, playing bass, saxophone, drums, vibes and piano, but it was when he moved to organ (normally a Hammond B-3) in 1960 that he really made his name. He reached the R&B top ten in 1962 with an instrumental version of I've Got a Woman (peaked at number 20 on the pop charts) and followed it with three more hits during the decade.

In the 70's and 80's, McGriff owned a club in Newark, NJ and continued to record on his own and with others like Red Holloway and David "Fathead" Newman. His final album was 2002's McGriff Avenue.

Earle Hagen, one of the most prolific writers of music for television, passed away on Monday at the age of 88.

Hagen started his career in the late-30's and 40's, playing with the bands of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Ray Noble and others. In 1939, he composed Harlem Nocturne, based on his love for the music of Duke Ellington.

Later in the 40's and 50's, he started composing for movies and eventually moved into the new medium of television. His themes are some of the best loved in TV history, including The Andy Griffith Show (he also was the whistler on the theme), The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Danny Thomas Show, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., I Spy, That Girl and The Mod Squad. He also received an Oscar nomination as co-musical director for the Marilyn Monroe vehicle Let's Make Love.

They are pretty much gone in the U.S., but Woolworth's stores are still around the U.K. In a sign of the times, the chain announced it would no longer carry CD singles after August because "digital downloading is now the true customer choice for listening and purchasing single music tracks.”

Sales of singles in the format in England dropped from 78 million in 1999 to 8 million last year.

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Manzarek Talks About Doors Documentary

Ray Manzarek has told Billboard Magazine that the remaining members of the Doors are working on a documentary covering the group's entire career.

"We have plans for a big Doors documentary film in the works," he told the magazine. "I saw the first cut of it yesterday, and it's looking real good. But that won't be out 'til another six months."

Manzarek also confirmed that there would be previously unseen footage. "Absolutely. That's the whole point of it. Never before seen! This is the anti-Oliver Stone . This will be the true story of the Doors."

This year is the 41st anniversary of the release of the group's first album and there are additional projects, including the already released Classic Albums DVD and the Live in Pittsburgh 1970 CD. Manzarek is also working on a film script based on L.A. Woman.

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New Releases for May 27, 2008

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Memorial Day Update - Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Mike Post, Motley Crue

Paul McCartney received an honorary degree in music on Monday from Yale University. In giving the award, the university said that McCartney "awakened a generation, giving a fresh sound to rock, roll, rhythm and blues."

Yale president Richard Levin said, "Here, there and everywhere, you have pushed the boundaries of the familiar to create new classics. We admire your musical genius and your generous support of worthy causes."


Pete Townshend won the most awards at the recent BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) Film & Television Awards. The awards honor the composers of music for the years top grossing/rated movies, prime-time network series and cable series.

Townshend took home three for the themes from CSI, CSI: Miami & CSI: New York (which are all, basically, recycled Who hits). Mike Post, who had hits with themes for The Rockford Files and Hill Street Blues, took home two for his themes for Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU.

Maybe it's time to start taking downloads for music games into account for the charts. A report says that Motley Crue's new single, Saints of Los Angeles, sold 10,000 copies on iTunes and Amazon where it sold 47,000 copies for the Rock Band video game and that was only for the Xbox 360 platform.

When the new Crue album comes out, only the Japanese version will have two bonus tracks (Saints of Los Angeles and Kickstart My Heart, both labeled as "Live & Rare."

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Monday, May 26, 2008

Folk and Country Loose Two Big Influences

Bruce "U. Utah" Phillips, a longtime American folk singer, songwriter, storyteller and political activist, passed away on Friday from congestive heart failure at the age of 73. His song Rock Salt and Nails was recorded by Waylon Jennings, Earl Scruggs, Joan Baez, Levon Helm and many others. He also had compositions performed by Emmylou Harris, the Flatlanders, Chris LeDoux and more.

As a recording artist, Phillips recorded for a number of labels, including Philo and Righteous Babe, including two albums with Ani DiFranco, The Past Didn't Go Anywhere and Fellow Workers.

On a personal note, I had the opportunity to attend the Fox Hollow Folk Festival in eastern New York back in 1973. My parents and I had a camper on the grounds and, one afternoon, Bruce Phillips came walking by our rolling home. My Dad, being the friendly type, hung his head out the door and yelled "Hey, Bruce. Want a cold one?" Bruce, being the same friendly type came into our camper and we spent the entire afternoon, just the four of us, listening to stories of his train hopping, his political activist work and quite a few rather ribald stories. It was an afternoon that will stay with me for the rest of my life. He was a friendly, intelligent, great man.


William David "D" Kilpatrick, an important icon behind the scenes in country music, passed away last Wednesday at the age of 88.

Kilpatrick started his career in the 40's with Capitol records, eventually working his way up to being one of the first (if not THE first) salaried country music producers in Nashville. While in the position, he produced records for Hank Thompson, Tex Ritter and others.

In 1951, he moved to Mercury Records where he produced Johnny Horton, Jimmy Dean, Carl Story and the Stanley Brothers.

In 1956, Kilpatrick was named manager of the Grand Ole Opry where he worked tirelessly to move the show from old time country into the modern era, signing artists like Porter Wagoner and the Everly Brothers. Two years later, he joined with other Nashville dignitaries to establish the Country Music Association.

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Sunday Update - George Michael, Iron Maiden, Beatles, more

Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer of Aerosmith, Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick and Frank Beard of ZZ Top are all scheduled to participate in the first Save the Planet Invitational Golf Tournament. The event is scheduled for June 2 in Myrtle Beach, SC as part of the grand opening of the Hard Rock Park.


George Michael has recruited burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese to appear in the video for his next, so far unnamed, single.

Those old rockers sure do get crotchety in their old age. Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson was not happy that a concert goer was smoking marijuana by the stage during one of their recent shows. He told the fan, in front of the whole audience, "Would you please put that f---ing shit out? My lungs are trying to work up here, dude."

66-year-old Pete Best has one big wish. He would love to meet up with Paul McCartney, whom he hasn't seen in over 40 years since his departure from the Beatles for Ringo Starr.

"I would like to see Paul one more time in my life, just to catch up. Talk about our kids and grandkids, compare notes on where we've been and where we're going. It was Paul who actually talked the others into letting me into the band because he thought I was a good fit and they couldn't find another decent drummer at the time. You know, as old friends go, people move in their own directions and you lose touch. We were kids back when we really hung out."

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

Time-Life Releasing 143 Radio Performances by Hank Williams Performances

Time-Life has entered into an exclusive deal with Hank Williams, Jr. and Jett Williams to release 143 recordings by the late-Hank Williams that have not been heard in over 57 years.

The recordings are from a daily radio program that Williams hosted in 1951. The recordings of 72 of those shows have been preserved and provide a previously unheard (unless you lived in mid-Tennessee at the time) look into Williams and his band. He is heard joking with the band and talking about music, along with performing his own hits and over forty songs that have never been available by Williams commercially.

The sound quality on the recordings is said to be close to that from a studio. Release is expected to start this fall and last for three years.

Mike Jason, Senior Vice President of Time-Life, said "This is truly a unique moment in music history. Finding these once-in-a-lifetime recordings is comparable to discovering a closet full of unreleased Beatles' or Elvis Presley songs."

Williams' daughter Jett added,
"This treasure trove of music will introduce my daddy to a whole new generation of fans and bring memories to his existing fans. Everyone will get to know the man and his musical genius as never before. These recordings were my vehicle to get to really know the father I never met."

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Saturday, May 24, 2008

Eddy Arnold Sets Chart Record

As we mentioned last week, the people at RCA were working with radio stations to see if they could get Eddy Arnold on the national charts one last time. The plan was to get his last single, To Life, played by as many radio stations as possible at a specific time and then replayed, if possible.

They pulled it off. To Life premiered on the country charts this week at number 49, giving Arnold a charted hit in each of the last seven decades.

Arnold's first hit was 1945's Each Minute Seems a Million Years and was followed by one of the most amazing chart runs of any genre. 67 consecutive top ten hits. 61 weeks at number one over a fourteen month period. 128 top forty country hits.

His consecutive decade run almost came to an end at five (40's through 80's) until a duet with LeAnn Rimes on his own Cattle Call made it to number eighteen in 1999. It was his only hit of the 90's as, most likely, To Life will be his only hit of this decade.

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Chart Watch - May 23, 2008

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current music charts. Chart highlights:

  • Frank Sinatra returns to the upper echelon of the charts as Nothing But the Best opens at number two in the U.S. and number ten in Britain.
  • Also new this week is the Iron Maiden compillation Somewhere Back in Time which premiers at number 58 on the U.S. album chart, number five on the rock album chart and at number fourteen in Britain.
  • It was a very short stay in the top 100 albums for Elvis Costello. Momofuku premiered last week at number 59 and dropped off the chart in its second week.
  • The Dance Club Play chart looks like a throwback to the mid-80's this week with Madonna, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Cyndi Lauper, the B-52's and Janet Jackson.
  • It's also a resurgence of older artists on the British album chart as eight of the top 20 started prior to 1986. Neil Diamond sits at number one with Home Before Dark, followed by Madonna, the Platters (third week in the top ten), Frank Sinatra, the Searchers, Iron Maiden, Robert Plant (with Alison Krauss) and Bobby Vee.
  • The first single from the new Cure album is charting in both Britain and Canada.
  • As of this week, we've added the Canadian, Japanese and Australian singles charts to our weekly review.
Previous week position noted in parenthesis.
Comprehensive

Top 100 Albums

Top 50 Singles
  • #7 (7) - 4 Minutes - Madonna

Top 25 Digital Songs
  • #5 (5) - 4 Minutes - Madonna

Top 25 Pop Catalog Albums

R&B

Top 50 R&B Albums

Top 50 R&B Songs

  • None

Top 10 R&B Catalog Albums

Country

Top 25 Country Albums

Top 25 Country Singles
  • #6 (5) - I Saw God Today - George Strait
  • #19 (23) - Every Other Weekend - Reba McEntire

Top 10 Country Catalog Albums

Rock

Top 10 Rock Albums
  • None

Top 10 Hard Rock Albums

Top 20 Mainstream Rock Tracks
  • #7 (7) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue
  • #14 (13) - Life is Beautiful - Sixx: A.M.

Adult Contemporary

Top 20 Adult Contemporary Tracks
  • #11 (11) - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher - Michael McDonald
  • #15 (14) - Busy Being Fabulous - Eagles

Dance

Top 25 Dance Club Play
  • #2 (1) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #7 (3) - Wanna Be Startin' Something - Michael Jackson with Akon
  • #8 (11) - This is Not Real Love - George Michael & Mutya
  • #16 (29) - Same Old Fucking Story - Cyndi Lauper
  • #21 (23) - Funplex - B-52's
  • #25 (30) - Rock With You - Janet (Jackson)

Top 10 Dance Singles Sales
  • #1 (1) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake

Jazz

Top 15 Jazz Albums

Top 15 Contemporary Jazz Albums




Americana

Music Association Top 40 Airplay



International

Top 100 British Albums