U2 Play Too Late, Deep Purple Fined For Playing Own Songs, more

Nothing like getting fined for just playing your show. U2 are facing large fines for breaching noise ordinances in Spain while rehearsing for their tour. They were only supposed to play until 10 PM but kept going until Midnight. Fines could be up to $21,000.

Even worse is the fact that Deep Purple are being fined by a Russian court for playing their own songs. The group failed to get a license to perform their own music prior to a show in Rustov-on-Don last year and are being fined $1,000 for each "unlicensed" song they performed.

---

Initial figures based on 19 national broadcast markets indicates that the Michael Jackson Memorial was viewed by 31.1 million Americans. For comparison, the 1997 funeral of Princess Diana was seen by 33.3 million and the 2004 burial of Ronald Reagan by 35.1 million; however, both of these events were on either a weekend (Princess Diana) or during prime time and after working hours (Reagan). Reagan's funeral itself, which was on a workday like Jackson's, only drew 20.8 million viewers.

This does not include people who were watching over the Internet or at viewings in places like Time Square and Harlem, so the actual viewership may actually eclipse the other two funerals.

---

The five-foot wooden model of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine that has stood outside Liverpool's The Beatles Story since 1991 has been stolen. Managing director Jerry Goldman said, “We are very upset and angry someone would perform such a selfish act. We would like to offer a £100 reward to be donated to the Linda McCartney Centre on behalf of anyone who can return our submarine safely.”

---

Bret Michaels can't seem to stay away from things crashing into him. Not as serious as getting beaned by a set at the Tony's, the Poison frontman's tour bus was hit by a car that lost control on Saturday night after a show in Toronto. Five cars ended up in the pileup, but there were no serious injuries.

---

Richard Hell is releasing a new version of his 1982 album with the Voidoids, Destiny Street. Destiny Street Repaired will use the original rhythm tracks but will contain new guitar parts by Marc Ribot (Tom Waits), Bill Frisell and Voidoid Ivan Julian. Hell also laid down new vocals.

There will be two separate CD releases, one with just the CD and a 1,000 copy limited edition with a second CD containing two songs (unreleased 1979 demo Smitten and the demo of Funhunt), a vinyl version and poster, with each set hand numbered and singed by Hell.

---

Patty Loveless is returning to the traditional sounds of her 1991 album Mountain Soul with Mountain Soul II, set for September 29 on Saguaro Road. She described the new album as "...Appalachian, bluegrass and country combined. You should never try to duplicate something like 'Mountain Soul.' What you should do is enhance. So this is like a continuation."

Helping out are Ronnie and Del McCoury, Vince Gill, Carl Jackson, Bryan Sutton, Mike Auldridge, Emmylou Harris and many others.

---

Word is that Ferlin Husky's condition is improving and has been move out of critical care in a Nashville area hospital. Tracy Pitcox, president of Heart of Texas Records, say the singer could be released on Thursday or Friday. Husky was hospitalized for a rapid heartbeat and possible pneumonia.

Read more...

ABBA Salute Slated for London with Andersson & Ulvaeus

No, you won't see ABBA filling in for some of Michael Jackson's O2 Arena dates. That rumor was flying around the internet (along with the fact that Led Zeppelin would do the rest).

What you will see, though, is a special concert of their songs called Thank You For The Music... A Celebration Of The Music Of ABBA at London's Hyde Park on September 13. While neither Anni-Frid Lyngstad or Agnetha Faltskog are expected to attend, both Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus will participate along with a number of other guest vocalists.

BBC Radio 2 is sponsoring the show that will salute the group and its two main songwriters. Andersson and Ulvaeus said in a statement "This must be the greatest honour that can be bestowed on any songwriter. We are absolutely delighted and we hope thousands of Radio 2 listeners will join us there."

According to the Radio 2 website, "The concert will include exclusive live performances from an array of stars of some of Benny and Bjorn’s most famous songs from their days as of one of the world’s greatest pop bands, to music from their recent offerings in musical theatre and folk."

Read more...

Book & Roseanne Cash Album Coming Based on Johnny Cash's "The List"

When Roseanne Cash was 18, her father Johnny Cash gave her a list of what he considered to be the 100 essential country songs. Roseanne used that list to select twelve songs that she has now covered for her new album, appropriately titled The List. The album is scheduled for October 6 via Manhattan Records.

Roseanne explained, "I looked to that list as a standard of excellence, and to remind myself of the tradition from which I come. This album enables me to validate the connection to my heritage rather than run away from it, and to tie all the threads together: past and future, legacy and youth, tradition the timelessness.

"If my father had been a martial arts master, he might have passed a martial arts secret on to me, his oldest child. If he had been a surgeon, he might have taken me into his operating room and pointed out the arteries and organs. If he were a robber baron, he might have surveyed his empire and said, 'Honey, some day this will all be yours!' But he was a musician and a songwriter, and he gave me the List."

The album contains songs that were originally hits by the likes of Hank Snow, Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan, Ray Price and Don Gibson. Other tracks are covers of traditional songs that are in many country and folk singer's repertoire but have never been a charted hit such as 500 Miles and Motherless Child.

Helping out on the album, adding their voices in duets, are Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.

The track list for The List:

• Miss the Mississippi and You
• Motherless Children
• Sea of Heartbreak (duet with Bruce Springsteen)
• Take These Chains From My Heart
• I’m Movin' On
• She’s Got You
• Heartaches by the Number (duet with Elvis Costello)
• 500 Miles
• Long Black Veil (duet with Jeff Tweedy)
• Silver Wings (duet with Rufus Wainwright)
• Girl From the North Country
• Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow

Also coming on October 27 is the book Always Been There: Roseanne Cash, The List and the Spirit of Southern Music by Michael Streissguth, published by Da Capo Press.

According to the Amazon product description:

Based on original interviews conducted in the studio, at home in New York City, and on tour in Europe, Always Been There documents a pivotal episode in Rosanne Cash’s long and fascinating career. As she, along with producer and husband John Leventhal, painstakingly reconstructs what songs made “the list” and why, we gain an unmatched understanding of a longer musican continuium that includes the Carter Family and other fabled names of the Southern pantheon and their influence on her music and writing. We also see how Leventhal’s talents as an arranger and musician pair with Rosanne’s searching vocal performances to make these old songs new again.

Read more...

Rolling Stone Readers Pick "American" Songs

This week's Rolling Stone readers poll revolves around favorite "American" songs. That wouldn't be songs ABOUT America or songs written BY Americans, but songs that have America or U.S.A. in their titles.

Most of the usual suspects were included, topped by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' American Girl, but there were a few surprises. Not only did David Bowie place Young Americans in the Top 15, but also I'm Afraid of Americans. Maybe most surprising is the high placement, at number 4, of Simon and Garfunkel's America but Simon's own, superb, American Tune did not make the list.

Here's Rolling Stones' Top 15 "American" Songs:

1. American Girl - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
   
2. American Pie - Don McLean
3. American Woman - Guess Who
4. America - Simon & Garfunkel
5. Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
6. Living in America - James Brown
7. We’re An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad
8. I’m Afraid of Americans - David Bowie
9. Young Americans - David Bowie
10. American Idiot - Green Day
11. I’m So Bored with the U.S.A. - Clash
12. America - Neil Diamond
13. Ashes Of American Flags - Wilco
14. Little America - R.E.M.
15. America The Beautiful - Ray Charles

Read more...

Paul McCartney Sets Record Straight On Beatles' Song Catalog

There have been various reports over the last week and a half about the Beatles' publishing rights and where they are with the passing of Michael Jackson. Some said that Jackson had promised Paul McCartney that the rights would pass back to him upon Jackson's death. When no mention was made of it in his will, it supposedly left McCartney devastated.

McCartney has released a statement addressing the rumors, basically calling them all hogwash:

For the Record - Message From Paul

Some time ago, the media came up with the idea that Michael Jackson was going to leave his share in the Beatles songs to me in his will which was completely made up and something I didn’t believe for a second.

Now the report is that I am devastated to find that he didn’t leave the songs to me. This is completely untrue. I had not thought for one minute that the original report was true and therefore, the report that I’m devastated is also totally false, so don’t believe everything you read folks!

In fact, though Michael and I drifted apart over the years, we never really fell out, and I have fond memories of our time together.

At times like this, the press do tend to make things up, so occasionally, I feel the need to put the record straight.

Paul

Read more...

Sales of Jackson's Music is Not Slowing Down

The sales of Michael Jackson's albums in the United States increased 90% last week over the previous week's already record totals. His solo catalog alone sold 800,000 copies, part of which can be attributed to a full week of sales instead of the 3-1/2 days that were in the first week after his passing.

For those who say the CD is dead, they may be sounding the alarm early as 82% of those sales came in the physical format. The labels were able to restock store shelves after a quick sell-out in the days following Jackson's death, helping boost the numbers.

For the second week in a row, and the second time ever, catalog albums have outsold the number one current LP. Last week, three Jackson albums did it while this week it is two. His Number Ones moved 339,000 copies while Thriller sold 187,000. In third was the newly released NOW That What I Call Music! 31 with sales of 169,000.

In addition, Jackson will have every position in the top ten Catalog Albums (he had nine last week) and five of the ten top downloaded songs. Total downloads for the week were 2.2 million compared to 2.6 million last week when the stores were out of physical product. Up until last week, no artist had sold more than one million downloads in a week.

Source: Billboard

Read more...

Remix Bowie's Space Oddity, A New Beatles Track Coming?, more

On July 20, in salute to the 40th anniversary of man first walking on the moon, EMI will release a special edition of David Bowie's Space Oddity for download. What you will get is four different versions of the song (UK mono single, US mono single, US stereo single, 1979 rerecording) and eight stems/multi-tracks for remixing (Bass and Drum, Strings, Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron, Backing Vocal with Flute and Cellos, Stylophone and Guitar, Lead Vocal, Main Backing Vocal including Countdown).

The stems can be used to produce buyers to remix the song "through their own software or through iKlax software."

---

There may be a third new Beatles track about to be released. Now and Then was recorded by John Lennon in 1978 and there have been rumors that of its existence since the Anthology recording sessions in 1995. A source has told BeatleNews.com that Paul McCartney has done some embellishments over the last couple of years to prepare the cut for release.

The source said, "There is no doubt the song is finished, none, or that the finishing touches were done over the last couple years. There is no doubt that all four Beatles are on the track. I heard that George Harrison sings back up as well as playing at least one guitar. It is thought McCartney sings at least some back up, if not more and plays several instruments. It is also possible he wrote additional sections to the song. Why it is not out, I dont know. My sources cannot be revealed but they are very reliable."

---

One short (we promise) Michael Jackson story. There are rumors that Jackson insiders are planning a true memorial for London's O2 Arena on August 29. We'll let you know when/if we hear more.

---

Two more Aerosmith shows go down. The July 7 show in Raleigh and July 9 in Charlotte, North Carolina are both postponed due, as Joe Perry said last night on Twitter, Steven Tyler’s undisclosed injury. That makes five shows that have been put off.

The good news is that Brad Whitford will be back whenever the tour restarts. He had recovering from surgery after slamming his head on his Ferrari and was scheduled to return tonight.

---

Grand Ole Opry star Mel McDaniel has suffered a heart attack and is currently in a medically induced coma in a Nashville-area hospital. His wife, Peggy, says that his condition is "not good" and is asking for prayers. McDaniel had 25 top forty country hits during the late-70's to late-80's including his number one, Baby Got Her Blue Jeans On.

---

Loudon Wainwright III will make a special appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame on August 1 to talk about Charlie Poole, the subject of his upcoming album High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project.

Read more...

429 Records Releasing Unique Singer/Songwriter Album

429 Records has announced the release of What Love Can Do, a unique album of songs by some legendary singer/songwriters that pairs a remake of one of their best known tunes with a new song. Phil Ramone organized the album that is due on August 4.

Now, some people may find this release slightly familiar. Back in February of 2007, Target put a number of exclusive albums on their shelves by artists like Kenny Loggins and Stephen Bishop through a collaboration with 180 Music. One of those albums was New Music From an Old Friend which contained many of the same tracks as appear on What Love Can Do.

Specifically, the following tracks are repeated on the new release.

• Burt Bacharach - Alfie (with Peabo Bryson), I Still Remember (with John Pagano)
• Brian Wilson - God Only Knows, What Love Can Do
• Richard Marx - Hold On To The Night, Your Goodbye
• Kenny Loggins - A Love Song, I'll Remember Your Name
• Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Coming Down, The Wonder
• Paul Williams - Rainbow Connection (with Willie Nelson), New Music From an Old Friend (with Jane Monheit)
• Stephen Bishop - Save It For a Rainy Day (with Eric Clapton and Oscar Castro-Neves)

Removed from the new album that was included on the Target version was Carole King's new recording of Home Again (with Suzan Agbor) and the new track Say Goodbye Today.

New to What Love Can Do are:

• Stephen Bishop - Un Baile Del Corazon
• Kenny Loggins - How About Now

Brian Wilson's What Love Can Do will be the first single sent to radio.

Read more...

The Michael Jackson Memorial

What could have easily fallen into a three-ring circus turned out to be an extremely well done, heartfelt and emotional salute to Michael Jackson.

The following is a rundown of all the events from the memorial:

• Smokey Robinson came on stage at about 10:10 AM Pacific and read letters from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandella.
• A break stretched to about twenty minutes due to, from what we know, the transport of Jackson's casket. The family had a private memorial in the Hall of Liberty at Forrest Lawn Cemetery after which the casket had to be transported to the Staple's Center.
• The Andrea Crouch Singers opened the memorial in front of a large projection of a church window singing Going to See the King as the casket was brought in.
• Pastor Lucious Smith gave the opening statements.
• Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz performed I'll Be There, including a small part of Never Can Say Goodbye.
• Queen Latifah spoke of her memories of Jackson as a part of her life and read a poem specifically written by Maya Angelou, We Had You.
• Lionel Ritchie performed Jesus is Love.
• Berry Gordy spoke about the Jackson 5 audition and his amazement at Michael's performance, the weekly Jacksons vs. Gordys softball game and the fact that they were the only group to have their first four singles go to number one. He stated "All through sadd times and some questionable decisions, he accomplished all he set out to do." Gordy also said the King of Pop was not enough of a title. Jackson should be known as the Greatest Entertainer That Ever Lived, a title that would be echoed throughout the memorial.
• Film montage of Jackson's career.
• Stevie Wonder performed Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer.
• Kobe Bryant talked about Jackson the humanitarian and referenced the fact that he has the Guinness record for the most charities supported by an entertainer.
• Magic Johnson spoke of his friendship with Jackie and the entire Jackson family and stated "the three children will have the most incredible Grandmother God ever put on this earth to take care of them."
• Jennifer Hudson performed Will You Be There.
• The Reverend Al Sharpton talked about the journey of Jackson from Gary to today and his accomplishments, including breaking the video barrier, We Are the World and bringing all cultures together through sheer determination. He also told Jackson's children "There is nothing strange about your Daddy. It was strange what he had to deal with."
• John Mayer performed an instrumental version of Human Nature.
• Brooke Shields gave one of the most emotional speeches of the day, talking about her friendship with Jackson and how they both started so young ("I started at six months old, you started at five you slacker"). She also talked about his love of laughter and mischief and how his favorite song was Charlie Chaplin's Smile.
• Jermaine Jackson performed Smile.
• Martin Luther King III spoke of how Jackson challenged himself and everyone else to be the best they can.
• Bernice King talked of how Jackson used God's love to bring the world together in true brother and sisterhood.
• Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas spoke on how Jackson was the "Good Samaritan" and of Congressional Resolution 600 to honor Jackson as a great American and musical icon. Her strongest statement was the fact that as a congressperson and lawyer, "we understand the Constitution and we Understand the law and people are innocent until proven guilty."
• Usher performed Gone Too Soon.
• Video of Jackson performing Who's Lovin' You on the Ed Sullivan Show.
• Smokey Robinson spoke of how Jackson was always wise beyond his years and sang with such conviction. He stated one of the greatest blessings of his life was to know Jackson and his family.
• Shaheen Jafargholi, a young boy that Jackson had invited to perform with him in London, performed Who's Lovin' You.
• Kenny Ortega spoke about the creation of the Memorial and his thanks to all who participated.
• The cast of This is It, along with the rest of the participants, performed We Are the World and Heel the World.
• Thanks were given by Jermaine and Marlon Jackson. A short, tearful statement was then made by Jackson's daughter Paris.
• The casket was removed.
• Pastor Lucious Smith gave the closing statement.
  

Read more...

Richie & Commodores Perform Together, Beatles Licensed for Bud, more

Lionel Richie closed out the Essence Music Festival on Sunday with help from old bandmates The Commodores. They all performed a number of their 70's hits, including Brick House and Just to Be Close to You. Also appearing were Teena Marie, Al Green, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly and many more.

---

It's happened before much to the chagrin of Beatles' fans and it's going to happen again. Budweiser has licensed All Together Now for their new series of advertisements, but it won't be the Beatles version. The commercial will use the music of the London group The Hours.

---

Jeff Beck has been honored at the Montreal Jazz Festival for his career that is highlighted by his breaking down the barriers between rock and jazz fusion.

He told the Canadian Press that he and his band head into the studio in August to begin recording a new album. "There is a dilemma about whether to make it a double album with the tear-jerky stuff one side and the rock 'n' roll on the other but all will be revealed by the end of August or maybe September."

---

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul & Mary has been forced to pull out of an upcoming show at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts due to her ongoing battle with the "the lingering effects of treatment for cancer." Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey will still perform.

---

The house in Macon, Georgia where the Allman Brothers first developed their sound is being reworked into a museum. Over 300,000 pieces of memorabilia are available for use in the galleries. Look for a December opening.

---

Righteous Records will release a remastered version of Hank Snow's 1958 album When Tragedy Struck on August 11.

---

The Bellamy Brothers have gotten together with another set of musical siblings, the Bacon Brothers (Kevin and Michael) to record the single Guilty of the Crime. David Bellamy said, "This song gave all of us an opportunity to do something a little different. We had a great time recording and filming with the Bacon Brothers and feel like we had the perfect song to bring both of our styles together.”

---

The Browns celebrated the 50th anniversary of their hit The Three Bells on Saturday with performances at the Grand Ole Opry and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. Over 40 family members were in attendance for the celebration.

---

Madness won the Icon Award and Queen the Ambassadors of Rock Trophy at Friday's O2 Silver Clef Awards in London. Take That won the top prize while Brian Wilson took home the International Award.

---

Drake Levin, the original guitarist for Paul Revere & the Raiders, passed away on Saturday from cancer at the age of 62. Levin was with the group from its beginnings through 1967 when he, bassist Phil "Fang" Volk and drummer Mike "Smitty" Smith left to form the Brotherhood. All three performed at a Raider's reunion in 1997.

Read more...

Cheap Trick Going Back to 8-Track

See that thing up there? That's what we used to call an 8-track tape back in the dark days of the 70's. It was bulky and the format of four equal-length "sides" meant that songs were either put on the tape in a different order from the album or they would fade out in the middle, only to fade back in once the tape moved to the next "track" (it was called 8-track, but it was really four stereo tracks).

For awhile they were semi-popular, but the audio cassette finally won out in the format battle. As a matter of fact, it's almost impossible to find someone to make them anymore.

That didn't deter Cheap Trick, though, as they have produced a small run of their new album, The Latest, on 8-Track. Don't expect to see these in your local Wal-Mart. They are going to use most of them to send to various radio stations and other media outlets as a promotional piece. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that some of these may eventually show up on eBay for those Cheap Trick completists.

Source: Toronto Globe & Mail

Read more...

Soul Train Coming to DVD

Variety is reporting that Direct Holdings Americas, the parent company of Time-Life Records, has acquired the entire DVD distribution rights to the Soul Train series along with a number of concerts by artists like Al Green and the Temptations and the Soul Train Music Awards. The vast majority of the programs in the deal are being licensed for the first time.

Whether the material will be sold as compilations of various artists via the Time-Life catalog and on TV or as artist specific discs is unknown. Speculation is that there will be an initial move towards releasing a Michael Jackson set as there is much material from both the series and from the Music Awards shows.

Gary Newman, executive Vice President of Direct Holdings, said “To work with and help perpetuate Soul Train’s legacy is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Their archives are incredibly rich and deep and reflect a vibrant part of pop culture that no other show could capture or has been able to replicate ever since.”

Source: Variety, Video Business

Read more...

Chart Watch Britain: July 5, 2009

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

• Michael Jackson tightens the grip on the British Album and Singles chart, increasing the number and position of his entries on both. In Albums, he now has 11 entries, up from seven last week. Essential takes over the number one spot with last weeks number 1, Number Ones, falling to 3.
• On the singles chart, Jackson has an amazing 37 out of the top 100 with virtually every one increasing in position. On the R&B singles, he has 17 of the top 40.
• Also a factor in this week's Album chart is the Glastonbury festival with Bruce Springsteen now placing three albums in the top 100, Madness with two and one each for Neil Young and the Specials. Except for Springsteen's newest Greatest Hits package, all of the albums moved up the charts.
  

Previous week position noted in parenthesis.

Top 100 British Albums

• #1 (20) - Essential - Michael Jackson
• #2 (-) - La Roux - La Roux
  
• #3 (1) - Number Ones - Michael Jackson
  
• #4 (2) - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum - Kasabian
  
• #5 (14) - King of Pop - Michael Jackson
• #6 (7) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
  
• #9 (6) - Greatest Hits - Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band
  
• #10 (17) - Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
• #18 (45) - Thriller 25 - Michael Jackson
• #20 (13) - The Very Best of - Jim Reeves
  
• #23 (-) - The Very Best of - Michael Jackson & Jackson 5
  
• #27 (15) - The Music of My Life - Neil Sedaka
• #33 (156) - History: Past, Present & Future, Book 1 - Michael Jackson
• #35 (12) - Let It Roll - George Harrison
• #41 (92) - Working on a Dream - Bruce Springsteen
• #45 (46) - Greatest Hits - Neil Young
• #48 (31) - The Very Best of - Cat Stevens
  
• #51 (27) - Hits Out of Hell - Meat Loaf
• #56 (50) - Gold: Greatest Hits - ABBA
• #59 (75) - The Liberty of Norton Folgate - Madness
• #61 (33) - The Collection - Mike Oldfield
• #64 (56) - Legend - Bob Marley & the Wailers
• #69 (59) - Bad - Michael Jackson
• #73 (81) - Singles: Best of - Specials
• #81 (53) - The Collection - Simon & Garfunkel
  
• #82 (142) - The Motown Years - Michael Jackson & Jackson 5
• #89 (42) - Greatest Hits - Black Sabbath
• #92 (146) - Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
• #94 (144) - Complete Madness - Madness
• #97 (111) - Dangerous - Michael Jackson
• #100 (110) - Piece of the Action: The Best of - Meat Loaf

Top 100 British Singles

• #1 (-) - Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada
  
• #2 (11) - Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
• #3 (1) - Bulletproof - La Roux
  
• #4 (2) - When Love Takes Over - David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland
  
• #5 (4) - Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
  
• #10 (25) - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
• #12 (23) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #13 (28) - Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
• #19 (30) - Beat It - Michael Jackson
• #25 (45) - Black or White - Michael Jackson
• #26 (50) - Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
• #32 (67) - They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson
• #33 (38) - Earth Song - Michael Jackson
• #34 (47) - The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
• #35 (44) - You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson
• #38 (48) - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
• #40 (57) - Bad - Michael Jackson
• #43 (55) - I Want You Back - Jackson 5
  
• #46 (58) - Ben - Michael Jackson
• #50 (65) - ABC - Jackson 5
  
• #54 (73) - Rock With You - Michael Jackson
• #55 (75) - Blame It On the Boogie - Jacksons
  
• #57 (72) - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Michael Jackson
• #59 (86) - Can You Feel It - Jacksons
  
• #60 (97) - You Rock My World - Michael Jackson
• #63 (78) - Heal the World - Michael Jackson
• #65 (71) - I'll Be There - Jackson 5
  
• #66 (119) - Leave Me Alone - Michael Jackson
• #70 (106) - Scream - Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson
  
• #73 (85) - Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
• #74 (117) - Give It To Me - Michael Jackson
• #78 (92) - I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson
• #81 (115) - Remember the Time - Michael Jackson
• #83 (120) - Will You Be There - Michael Jackson
• #86 (118) - Liberian Girl - Michael Jackson
• #88 (95) - She's Out of My Life - Michael Jackson
• #90 (109) - Human Nature - Michael Jackson
• #91 (135) - Stranger in Moscow - Michael Jackson
• #92 (96) - Ain't No Sunshine - Michael Jackson
• #94 (99) - One Day in Your Life - Michael Jackson
• #97 (76) - Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer) - Ironik/Chipmunk/Elton John
  
• #98 (125) - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson

The balance of the charts are after the cut.

Top 40 British R&B Albums

• #1 (1) - Essential - Michael Jackson
• #2 (-) - R&B In the Mix - Various Artists
  
• #3 (2) - The E.N.D. - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #4 (4) - I Am...Sasha Fierce - Beyonce
  
• #5 (5) - In a Perfect World - Keri Hilson
  
• #31 (36) - Ultimate - Whitney Houston

Top 40 British R&B Singles

• #1 (3) - Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
  
• #2 (1) - Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #3 (2) - Knock You Down - Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo
• #4 (7) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #5 (8) - Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
• #7 (13) - Black or White - Michael Jackson
• #8 (17) - Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
• #12 (21) - They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson
• #13 (10) - Earth Song - Michael Jackson
  
• #14 (15) - The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
• #15 (12) - You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson
• #17 (24) - Rock With You - Michael Jackson
• #18 (23) - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Michael Jackson
• #21 (26) - Heel the World - Michael Jackson
• 
  
• #26 (32) - Remember the Time - Michael Jackson
• #27 (-) - Human Nature - Michael Jackson
• #28 (36) - Stranger in Moscow - Michael Jackson
• #29 (25) - Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer) - Ironik/Chipmunk/Elton John
• #30 (34) - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson
• #36 (-) - Blood on the Dance Floor - Michael Jackson

Top 40 British Rock Albums

• #1 (-) - Killswitch Engine - Killswitch Engine
  
• #2 (1) - 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day
  
• #3 (6) - Greatest Hits - Guns N' Roses
  
• #4 (3) - Feel the Steel - Steel Panther
• #5 (8) - Minutes to Midnight - Linkin Park
• #7 (4) - Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani)
• #10 (14) - Back in Black - AC/DC
• #15 (15) - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
  
• #16 (5) - Greatest Hits - Black Sabbath
• #18 (16) - Black Ice - AC/DC
• #19 (-) - Master of Reality - Black Sabbath
• #20 (19) - Metallica - Metallica
• #21 (32) - Greatest Hits - Thin Lizzy
  
• #27 (20) - Death Magnetic - Metallica
• #31 (-) - Piece of the Action: The Best of - Meat Loaf
• #32 (39) - This is Spinal Tap - Spinal Tap
• #35 (R) - If You Want Blood, You've Got It - AC/DC
• #36 (35) - Highway to Hell - AC/DC
• #37 (-) - Very Best of - Aerosmith
• #40 (30) - Mothership - Led Zeppelin

Top 40 British Rock Singles

• #1 (1) - New Divide - Linkin Park
  
• #2 (3) - If Today Was Your Last Day - Nickelback
  
• #3 (4) - What I've Done - Linkin Park
  
• #4 (2) - Last Chance - Shinedown
  
• #5 (5) - Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
• #12 (6) - Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
• #15 (15) - Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
  
• #16 (13) - Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
• #17 (14) - Enter Sandman - Metallica
• #18 (19) - Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
  
• #20 (20) - Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• #26 (26) - We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions - Queen
• #31 (16) - Paranoid - Black Sabbath
  
• #39 (39) - One - Metallica

Top 40 British Dance Singles

• #1 (1) - When Love Takes Over - David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland
  
• #2 (2) - Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer) - Freemasons & Sophie Ellis-Bextor
• #3 (3) - Raindrops - Basement Jaxx
  
• #4 (4) - Bonkers - Dizee Rascal/Armand Van Helden
• #5 (7) - I Remember - Deadmau5 & Kaskade
  
• No Veteran Artists Charting

Read more...

Michael Jackson Update: Memorial Service Participants, Ticketing Problems, Mother Losses Control of Estate

The Jackson Family has announced the list of people who will be participating in tomorrow's Michael Jackson Memorial Service. They include:

• Mariah Carey
• Jennifer Hudson
• Lionel Richie
• Smokey Robinson
• Barry Gordy
• Stevie Wonder
• Usher
• John Meyer
  
• Kobe Bryant
• Andrea Crouch Choir
• Magic Johnson
• Martin Luther King III
• Bernice A. King
• Reverend Al Sharpton
• Brooke Shields

It was originally said the ex-wife Debbie Rowe would be attending the service; however, her attorney has said "The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael's legacy. Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael's memory privately."

---

While the ticketing process seems to have gone fairly smoothly, there have been a couple of glitches. Probably the biggest is that people were informed this morning whether they had tickets and they would have only until 6 P.M. to pick them up at Dodger Stadium. This is causing a lot of trouble for people who are coming in from out-of-state or even outside the United States. As of this writing, AEG is looking for a solution to the problem.

Scalpers are also trying to turn the tickets into big business, posting them on eBay and Craig's List for $1,000 or more. The two sites have been doing their best to remove the listings but seem to be up against a losing battle.

It's not clear exactly how anyone would be able to use any tickets purchased on the secondary market. At Dodger Stadium, ticket winners had to prove that they were the person who had been selected and a wristband was immediately attached to their arm which has to stay in place until after tomorrow's ceremony. A second wristband in each set could be given to anyone, but there would still be the logistics of getting the band and ticket to the person in less than 24-hours. It would appear that a lot of the on-line sales would have to be frauds.

---

Katherine Jackson, Michael's mother, has lost control of the estate after a Los Angeles judge ruled that the co-executors should be attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain. Another hearing will be held on August 3.

Read more...

Chart Watch Australia: July 5, 2009

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

• There's no surprise here as, like the rest of the world, Michael Jackson dominates the charts. On Australia's top 50 albums, Jackson holds eight positions, including the top three. On the singles chart, it's even more pronounced with Jackson having 18 of the top 50.
  

Previous week position noted in parenthesis.

Top 50 Albums

• #1 (R) - Essential - Michael Jackson
• #2 (R) - Number Ones - Michael Jackson
• #3 (R) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #4 (1) - State of the Art - Hilltop Hoods
  
• #5 (3) - Funhouse - Pink
• #7 (R) - King of Pop - Michael Jackson
• #19 (R) - Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
• #24 (R) - Dangerous - Michael Jackson
• #28 (R) - Bad - Michael Jackson
• #34 (24) - Essential - Simon & Garfunkel
• #38 (22) - Old Friends: Live on Stage - Simon & Garfunkel
  
• #48 (R) - HIStory: Past Present and Future Book 1 - Michael Jackson

Top 50 Singles

• #1 (1) - I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
• #2 (3) - Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
  
• #3 (R) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
  
• #4 (7) - New Divide - Linkin Park
  
• #5 (2) - Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
• #6 (R) - Black or White - Michael Jackson
  
• #7 (R) - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
  
• #8 (R) - Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
  
• #13 (R) - The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
  
• #14 (R) - Ben - Michael Jackson
  
• #16 (R) - Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
  
• #17 (R) - Beat It - Michael Jackson
  
• #21 (R) - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
  
• #22 (R) - You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson
  
• #27 (R) - Bad - Michael Jackson
  
• #30 (R) - Heel the World - Michael Jackson
  
• #36 (R) - Rock With You - Michael Jackson
  
• #40 (R) - Remember the Time - Michael Jackson
  
• #41 (-) - Can You Feel It - Michael Jackson
  
• #43 (-) - ABC - Jackson 5
  
• #44 (-) - Blame It On the Boogie - Michael Jackson
  
• #45 (R) - They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson

Top 40 Urban Albums

• #1 (1) - State of the Art - Hilltop Hoods
  
• #2 (2) - The E.N.D. - Black Eyed Peas
• #3 (3) - Relapse - Eminem
• #4 (6) - Been Waiting - Jessica Mauboy
  
• #5 (5) - Doll Domination 2.0 - Pussycat Dolls
• No Veteran Artists Charting

Top 40 Urban Singles

• #1 (1) - Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #2 (3) - Hush Hush; Hush Hush - Pussycat Dolls
  
• #3 (2) - Chase That Feeling - Hilltop Hoods
  
• #4 (4) - Because - Jessica Mauboy
  
• #5 (6) - Battlefield - Jordan Sparks
  
• #30 (20) - Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer) - Ironik Featuring Chimpmunk & Elton John
  

Top 20 Country Albums

• #1 (1) - Fearless - Taylor Swift
  
• #2 (2) - Defying Gravity - Keith Urban
  
• #3 (4) - Cowboy Town - Brooks and Dunn
  
• #4 (5) - Greatest Hits: 18 Kids - Keith Urban
• #5 (3) - I Love This Place - Troy Cassar-Daley
  
• #10 (8) - Essential - Johnny Cash
• #14 (15) - Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• #16 (9) - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane - Elvis Costello

Read more...

Former Beatles/Rolling Stones Manager Allen Klein Passes at 77

Allen Klein, the powerful and controversial manager and record label owner, passed away on Saturday in New York at age 77. He had been fighting Alzheimer's disease.

Klein began his career in the late-50's and quickly became known as the "go to" guy when an artist wanted to get tough with a record company. He extracted $100,000 from Atco Records for Bobby Darin in unpaid royalties and helped Sam Cooke dissolve existing contracts and start his own Tracey Records, regain ownership of his songs and receive payment of back royalties.

In 1965, Klein became co-manager of the Rolling Stones, a position that initially drew great praise; however, by the end of the decade, Mick Jaggar suspected some of Klein's business practices and ended up firing him. Klein sued with the result being that the Stones gave up the rights to most of their pre-1971 recordings to Klein.

Klein, ever the savvy business owner, formed ABKCO Industries in 1968 when he purchased the catalog of Cameo-Parkway, putting his company in charge of the recorded output of artists like Chubby Checker, the Animals, Herman's Hermits, Bobby Rydell and many others. Later in his career, he also acquired the back catalog of Phil Spector's Philles Records, giving them the output of artists like the Righteous Brothers, the Crystals and the Ronettes.

During one of his last sessions with the Stones, Rock and Roll Circus, Klein met John Lennon. The Beatles had not had a manager since the 1967 death of Brian Epstein and their Apple Industries was in a bit of disarray as was the group who fought over business decisions. Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr agreed to let Klein take over business matters while Paul McCartney abstained from signing any contracts.

Klein negotiated a new royalty rate with EMI, allowed them to release a Beatles compilation album and was responsible for the release of Something/Come Together as a way to stave off looming financial disaster. He also arranged for Phil Spector to come in and save the Get Back sessions, which eventually became the group's last album, Let It Be.

Upon the split of the Beatles, McCartney chose to sue the rest of the group for a "divorce," breaking up the group as a business entity. He later stated that he did so to keep Klein's hands off their legacy.

Klein went on to work with both Lennon and Harrison on their early solo efforts, but a number of misjudgments around the Concert for Bangladesh led to both artists breaking off their relationship with him. At one particularly contentious moment, Harrison came up against Klein during the My Sweet Lord plagiarism lawsuit. Klein advised Harrison during the first part of the proceedings, but then bought Bright Tunes and obtained ownership of He's So Fine, basically putting him on both sides of the case. The maneuver backfired against Klein and Harrison eventually ended up owning both songs.

Later in his career, Klein got into producing films but had one last major lawsuit against the British group The Verve who had sampled part of the Rolling Stones' The Last Time in their song Bittersweet Symphony. Even though their had been a contract before the recording of the song, Klein sued the group and received 100% of the royalties after saying that too much had been sampled. He turned around and licensed Bittersweet Symphony to Nike for use in their advertisements and changed the writers of the song to Mick Jaggar and Keith Richards.

Read more...

Michael Jackson Update: Funeral Service Tickets, TV Coverage, more

Over 1.6 million people attempted to get tickets for Tuesday's Michael Jackson Memorial service over the last two days; however, they will need to wait until Monday to find out if they are a lucky winner.

Originally, the ticket announcements were going to be made today (Sunday), but AEG wants to review the entries to remove any duplicates or ones that may have come from automated systems.

On Monday, e-mails will go out to the winners who will then need to go to a specified location to pick up the tickets and wrist bands. They will need to have both to get into the Staples center, with the aim of controlling the area for only true service goers and to stop any scalping of the tickets.

---

Expect wall-to-wall coverage of the service on Tuesday from many of the major networks. So far, networks like NBC, ABC, CNN, HLN, CNN International, MSNBC, TV Guide Network and E! have said they will be showing the service live at 10 AM Pacific. CBS has not announced final plans.

---

Brian May says that he is infuriated that two rough tracks recorded by Freddie Mercury and Jackson during the 80's have leaked onto the internet. State of Shock and There Must Be More to Life Than This were recorded at Jackson's studio.

---

The producers of The Simpsons have gotten the rights clearance to reair the 1991 episode in which Michael Jackson voices the part of an overweight mental patient who thinks he is the singer. It will air tonight (Sunday) at 8 PM Eastern.

---

Billboard recently reported that Jackson was working on two albums at the time of his death, one of pop music and an instrumental classical composition.

---

Madonna paid tribute to Jackson at her London O2 concert with an imitator who performed some of the singer's most famous dance moves to Holiday/Want to Be Startin' Somethin'.

Read more...

Chart Watch America: July 3, 2009

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

• As if just about everyone didn't already know, this week was all about Michael Jackson; however, the way that Billboard does the American charts, he isn't having the impact on the "current" totals as in other countries. That's because Billboard places older albums on the Catalog Album chart to keep the Top 100 Albums available for current product. For the first time ever this week, that method does not give a true representation of what is happening in the music world as the Black Eyed Peas top the Album chart, but The E.N.D. is only the fourth biggest selling album of the week. That's because three Michael Jackson albums, Number Ones, Essential and Thriller, outsold the "number one" album. Those albums only qualify, though, for the catalog chart.
• Just how dominent was Michael Jackson this week? He has 12 of the top 25 Digital downloads. 14 of the top 25 Catalog albums. All ten of the top ten on the R&B Catalog albums. It is one of the most dominating performances in music history.
• There were a couple of debuts of note this week. The original cast album from the Broadway revival of Hair premiers on the album chart at 63 while the revamped soundtrack for Woodstock starts at number 10 (and the only non-Michael Jackson album in the top ten) on the Pop Catalog Albums chart. Also new, at 77 is B is for Bob, a re-imagining of the music of Bob Marley & the Wailers for kids.
• In the world of dance, U2's Magnificent moves up to number 3 on the Dance Club Play chart with a shot of going to number 1 next week. Also on the Dance Club chart, believe it or not, is country's Wynonna Judd moving 20 to 14 with Sing.
  

Previous week position noted in parenthesis.

---

Comprehensive

Top 100 Albums

• #1 (2) - The E.N.D. - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #2 (1) - Lines, Vines and Trying Times - Jonas Brothers
  
• #3 (-) - Far - Regina Spector
  
• #4 (3) - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King - Dave Matthews Band
  
• #5 (4) - Relapse - Eminem
  
• #15 (7) - Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani)
• #41 (24) - Let It Roll - George Harrison
• #46 (33) - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane - Elvis Costello
  
• #63 (-) - Hair: The New Broadway Cast Recording - Original Cast
  
• #64 (42) - Together Through Life - Bob Dylan
  
• #65 (19) - 127 Rose Avenue - Hank Williams, Jr.
  
• #68 (48) - Live From Madison Square Garden - Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
  
• #77 (-) - B is For Bob - Bob Marley & the Wailers
  
• #82 (68) - Congo Square - Teena Marie
  
• #84 (51) - Troubadour - George Strait
• #95 (63) - No Line on the Horizon - U2

Top 50 Singles

• #1 (2) - I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #2 (1) - Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #3 (3) - Best I Ever Had - Drake
  
• #4 (4) - Knock You Down - Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo
• #5 (6) - LoveGame - Lady Gaga
  
• No Veteran Artists Charting

See the rest of the charts after the cut.
Top 25 Digital Songs

• #1 (1) - I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #2 (R) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #3 (-) - Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
• #4 (-) - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
  
• #5 (2) - Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
• #6 (-) - The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
  
• #7 (-) - Beat It - Michael Jackson
  
• #9 (-) - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
  
• #12 (-) - Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
  
• #13 (-) - Black or White - Michael Jackson
  
• #14 (-) - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson
  
• #17 (-) - Rock With You - Michael Jackson
  
• #20 (-) - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Michael Jackson
  
• #23 (-) - Bad - Michael Jackson

Top 25 Pop Catalog Albums

• #1 (20) - Number Ones - Michael Jackson
• #2 (R) - Essential - Michael Jackson
• #3 (R) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #4 (R) - Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
  
• #5 (-) - Ultimate Collection - Jackson 5
  
• #6 (R) - Bad - Michael Jackson
  
• #7 (R) - Dangerous - Michael Jackson
• #8 (R) - HIStory: Greatest Hits, Volume 1 - Michael Jackson
• #9 (-) - Ultimate Collection - Michael Jackson
• #10 (-) - Woodstock: Music From the Original Soundtrack and More - Soundtrack
• #11 (R) - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of - Jackson 5
  
• #12 (3) - Greatest Hits - Journey
• #13 (-) - HIStory: Past Present and Future Book 1 - Michael Jackson
  
• #15 (2) - Mothership - Led Zeppelin
• #16 (5) - Legend - Bob Marley & the Wailers
• #17 (4) - Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits - Creedence Clearwater Revival
  
• #19 (-) - The Jacksons Story: Number 1's - Jacksons
• #20 (-) - Invincible - Michael Jackson
• #22 (-) - Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix - Michael Jackson
• #23 (9) - Gold: Greatest Hits - ABBA

---

R&B

Top 50 R&B Albums

• #1 (-) - A Man's Thoughts - Ginuwine
  
• #2 (1) - The E.N.D. - Black Eyed Peas
• #3 (2) - Relapse - Eminem
  
• #4 (4) - Epiphany - Chrisette Michael
  
• #5 (5) - The Introduction of Marcus Cooper - Pleasure P
  
• #7 (9) - Congo Square - Teena Marie
• #15 (13) - Uncle Charlie - Charlie Wilson
• #37 (29) - Just Go - Lionel Richie
• #46 (37) - Lotus Flow3r/MPLSoUND/Elix3r - Prince/Bria Valente
  

Top 50 R&B Songs

• #1 (1) - Best I Ever Had - Drake
  
• #2 (3) - Every Girl - Young Money
  
• #3 (2) - Knock You Down - Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo
  
• #4 (5) - Ego - Beyonce
  
• #5 (4) - Birthday Sex - Jeremih
• #23 (21) - Download - Lil Kim Featuring T-Pain & Charlie Wilson
• #29 (28) - Give You Up - Raphael Saadiq Featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton
• #31 (35) - There Goes My Baby - Charlie Wilson
• #44 (49) - Can't Live Without You - Charlie Wilson

Top 20 Adult R&B Airplay

• #1 (2) - On the Ocean - K'Jon
  
• #2 (1) - Pretty Wings - Maxwell
  
• #3 (3) - sobeautiful - Musiq Soulchild
  
• #4 (6) - Give You Up - Raphael Saadiq Featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton
• #5 (5) - The Point of It All - Anthony Hamilton
• #6 (7) - There Goes My Baby - Charlie Wilson
• #12 (18) - Can't Live Without You - Charlie Wilson
• #14 (14) - Can't Last a Day - Teena Marie Featuring Faith Evans

Top 10 R&B Catalog Albums

• #1 (R) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #2 (4) - Number Ones - Michael Jackson
• #3 (R) - Essential - Michael Jackson
• #4 (-) - Ultimate Collection - Jackson 5
  
• #5 (R) - Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
  
• #6 (R) - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of - Jackson 5
• #7 (R) - Bad - Michael Jackson
  
• #8 (R) - HIStory: Greatest Hits, Volume 1 - Michael Jackson
#9 (R) - Dangerous - Michael Jackson
• #10 (-) - The Jacksons Story: Number 1's - Jacksons

---

Country

Top 25 Country Albums

• #1 (1) - Hannah Montana: The Movie - Soundtrack
• #2 (2) - Fearless - Taylor Swift
  
• #3 (3) - The Foundation - Zac Brown Band
  
• #4 (4) - Greatest Hits, Volume 2 - Kenny Chesney
  
• #5 (6) - Wide Open - Jason Aldeen
  
• #16 (7) - 127 Rose Avenue - Hank Williams, Jr.
• #18 (16) - Troubadour - George Strait

Top 25 Country Songs

• #1 (3) - Sideways - Dierks Bentley
  
• #2 (2) - Whatever It Is - Zac Brown Band
  
• #3 (1) - Out Last Night - Kenny Chesney
  
• #4 (4) - Then - Brad Paisley
• #5 (6) - I Run to You - Lady Antebellum
• #12 (12) - Strange - Reba (McEntire)
• #15 (15) - Living For the Night - George Strait
  

Top 10 Country Catalog Albums

• #1 (2) - Some Hearts - Carrie Underwood
• #2 (1) - 50 Number Ones - George Strait
• #3 (4) - Time Well Wasted - Brad Paisley
• #4 (5) - Enjoy the Ride - Sugarland
• #5 (10) - 30 #1 Hits - Elvis Presley
• #7 (7) - Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• #10 (6) - Song's You Know By Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit(s) - Jimmy Buffett

---

Rock

Top 10 Rock Albums

• #1 (1) - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King - Dave Matthews Band
• #2 (-) - Black Clouds & Silver Linings - Incubus
• #3 (-) - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Soundtrack
• #4 (-) - Octahedron - The Mars Volta
  
• #5 (5) - Only By the Night - Kings of Leon
• #7 (3) - Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani)

Top 10 Hard Rock Albums

• #1 (-) - Black Clouds & Silver Linings - Incubus
• #2 (-) - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Soundtrack
• #3 (1) - Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani)
• #4 (2) - Dark Horse - Nickelback
• #5 (3) - The Sound of Madness - Shinedown
• #10 (7) - Mothership - Led Zeppelin

Top 20 Mainstream Rock Tracks

• #1 (2) - New Divide - Linkin Park
  
• #2 (1) - Sound of Madness - Shinedown
  
• #3 (3) - Drowning (Face Down) - Saving Abel
  
• #4 (5) - Champagne - Cavo
  
• #5 (4) - The Night - Distrubed
  
• #10 (13) - All Nightmare Long - Metallica

Top 20 AAA Tracks

• #1 (1) - Funny the Way It Is - Dave Mathews Band
  
• #2 (2) - Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
  
• #3 (3) - Live in Technicolor ii - Coldplay4
  
• #4 (4) - You Never Know - Wilco
  
• #5 (5) - 21 Guns - Green Day
  
• #10 (6) - Magnificent - U2
• #15 (15) - Complicated Shadows - Elvis Costello

---

Adult Contemporary

Top 20 Adult Contemporary Tracks

• #1 (1) - Love Story - Taylor Swift
• #2 (2) - The Climb - Miley Cyrus
  
• #3 (4) - I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
  
• #4 (3) - What About Now - Daughtry
  
• #5 (5) - Better in Time - Leona Lewis
  
• #11 (13) - Just Go - Lionel Richie

Top 20 Adult Top 40 Tracks

• #1 (1) - Second Chance - Shinedown
  
• #2 (2) - If Today Was Your Last Day - Nickelback
  
• #3 (3) - Her Diamonds - Rob Thomas
  
• #4 (9) - Please Don't Leave Me - Pink
  
• #5 (6) - The Climb - Miley Cyrus
  
• No Veteran Artists Charting

---

Dance

Top 25 Dance Club Play

• #1 (2) - Now I'm the Bitch - Livvi Franc
• #2 (3) - Body Rock - Oceana
  
• #3 (5) - Magnificent - U2
• #4 (8) - LoveGame - Lady Gaga
  
• #5 (6) - Love Etc. - Pet Shop Boys
  
• #14 (20) - Sing - Wynonna
  
• #20 (25) - Money's Too Tight to Mention 2009 - Simply Red
• #24 (29) - Just Go - Lionel Richie
  

Top 10 Dance Singles Sales

• #1 (-) - It's Alright, It's OK - Ashley Tisdale
  
• #2 (2) - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull
• #3 (-) - Pale Horses - Moby
  
• #4 (4) - Just Dance - Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O'Donis
  
• #5 (1) - Halo - Beyonce
• #7 (3) - Magnificent - U2

---

Jazz

Top 15 Jazz Albums

• #1 (1) - Meets Madison Square Garden - Michael Buble
  
• #2 (2) - Quiet Nights - Diana Krall
  
• #3 (3) - My One and Only Thrill - Melody Gardot
  
• #4 (-) - Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music of Coltrane and Hartman - Kurt Elling
  
• #5 (5) - Classic Sinatra II - Frank Sinatra
  
• #6 (4) - Live at the Meadowlands - Frank Sinatra
  
• #7 (6) - Seduction: Sinatra Sings Love Songs - Frank Sinatra
• #10 (9) - The Bright Mississippi - Allen Toussaint

Top 15 Contemporary Jazz Albums

• #1 (1) - In Boston - Chris Botti
  
• #2 (3) - New Beginnings - Ski Johnson
  
• #3 (2) - The Real Thing - Vanessa Williams
  
• #4 (6) - Poetically Justified - Marcus Johnson
  
• #5 (4) - Send One Your Love - Boney James
• #13 (R) - Re:Generations - Nat King Cole
  
• #14 (12) - Down to the Wire - Spyro Gyra

Source for all charts above: Billboard

---

Americana

Americana Music Association Top 40 Airplay

• #1 (1) - Townes - Steve Earle
• #2 (4) - The Excitement Plan - Todd Snyder
• #3 (2) - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away - Slaid Cleaves
  
• #4 (12) - Electric Dirt - Levon Helm
  
• #5 (5) - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane - Elvis Costello
  
• #7 (3) - Hills & Valleys - Flatlanders
• #14 (9) - Together Through Life - Bob Dylan
• #19 (31) - The Loving Kind - Nanci Griffith
• #23 (16) - Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm - Various Artists
• #34 (33) - Willie and the Wheel - Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel
  
• #40 (38) - Lay Your Burden Down - Buckwheat Zydeco

Source: Americana Music Association

Read more...

John Paul Jones Joins Grohl & Homme in New Group, Ron Wood Joins Slash For One Show, more

Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones is in a new group with the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. According to Spinner, their first album is in the can but a band name and a release date for the album are yet to be decided.

---

Ozzy Osbourne, Ron Wood and Fergie joined Slash on stage for his Tuesday night show at the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, Norway. Included in the set were Honky Tonk Woman, Stay With Me, Knocking on Heaven's Door and It's Only Rock and Roll. Slash's regular drummer is Jason Bonham who sat in for his late-father at the Led Zeppelin reunion concert.

---

Joe Perry has told Billboard that his new solo album is just about ready to go with a single being released in July or August and the entire package in the fall.

Perry has started a contest among his Twitter readers to name the album. If one of the suggestions is used, the submitter will receive a guitar.

---

Add two more canceled shows to the Aerosmith tour due to the unspecified "band injury." Postponed now are the Friday night show in Hershey, Pennsylvania and the Sunday show in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

---

Country great Ferlin Husky (Wings of a Dove, Gone) has been hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee. The 83-year-old had an elevated heart rate on possible pneumonia.

---

A Beatles fan has taken it upon himself to restore the gravestone of original bassist Stu Sutcliffe. Colin Unwin, 61, reset the stone which had almost toppled over and repainted the gold lettering.

Unwin has done similar work for other Beatles' landmarks, including painting the gates of the former Strawberry Fields children's home. He also told the Liverpool Echo that he is looking into putting plaques at other famous Beatles spots.

---

Holly Williams, daughter of Hank Williams, II and granddaughter of Hank Williams, will make her Grand Ole Opry debut tonight (Friday).

Read more...

John Lennon Items Clean Up at Christie's Pop & Rock Memorabilia Auction

An auction at Christie's in London on Wednesday netted huge bids for numerous items from the late John Lennon.

Topping the list is a 1958 Hofner Senator acoustic guitar with an accompanying note from 1982 verifying the authenticity. The guitar sold for $337,226, drastically higher than the second highest selling item, a Harmony Stratotone guitar belonging to Brian Jones of the Rollings Stones c. 1963 that went for $130,208.

The top selling lots:

• John Lennon's 1958 Hofner Senator acoustic guitar - $337, 226
• Brian Jones' Harmony Stratotone electric guitar - $130,208
• John Lennon's hand drawn placard from the 1969 Monteal bed-in, signed by Lennon and Yoko Ono - $120,350
• John Lennon's photocopied and hand annotated lyric sheets (10) for the Imagine album - $41,075
• John Lennon's handwritten prose and poetry c.1964 - $26,699
• Beatles unpublished photographs (about 800) taken from 1968 forward by several fans - $26,699
• John Lennon pen and ink drawing, Randolph's Party - $24,645
• Beatles 45 of Hey Jude/Revolution from the Our First Four promotional single presentation pack with photo signed by all four - $22,591
• Beatles Please Please Me mono LP signed by all four - $22,591
• John Lennon pen and ink drawing, Figures Involved in a Meeting Around a Table - $20,538
• John Lennon pen and ink drawing, Liddypool - $19,511
• John Lennon pen and ink drawing, Sad Michael - $18,484
• Paul McCartney's 1970's Hofner 5000/1 Bass, signed by McCartney - $17,457
• John Lennon & Yoko Ono interview reel-to-reel tape with John Peel - $16,430
• Metallica's original artwork for their Ride the Lightning album - $15,403
  

Read more...

Diamond Goes Exclusive With Wal-Mart for Hot August Night/NYC

One of the triumphs of Neil Diamond's career was the 1972 live album Hot August Night. The album captured the excitement of a Diamond live show in a way that had been much less successful on the previous Gold.

On August 14, Diamond recaptures the excitement of that landmark with Hot August Night/NYC, a live album culled from his four-night run at Madison Square Garden in August 2008. This time around, the album consists of a 28-track DVD and an accompanying 10-track CD with highlights from the shows. Note that the CD contains three songs that do not appear on the DVD (Shilo, September Morn, Heartlight) The DVD also includes a bonus feature of Diamond touring and talking about where he grew up in Brooklyn.

CBS will be presenting a special on the release day from 8 to 9 eastern with highlights from the DVD and some of the hometown footage.

The track list for Hot August Night/NYC is after the cut.

• Disc 1 (DVD)
• Holly Holy
• Beautiful Noise
• Street Life
• Love On The Rocks
• Play Me
  
• Cherry Cherry
• Thank The Lord For The Night Time
• Home Before Dark
• Don't Go There
• Pretty Amazing Grace
  
• Crunchy Granola Suite
• Done Too Soon
• Brooklyn Roads
• I Am...I Said
• Solitary Man
• Kentucky Woman
• Forever In Blue Jeans
• Sweet Caroline
• Sweet Caroline (1st Reprise)
• You Don't Bring Me Flowers
• Song Sung Blue
• I'm A Believer
• Man Of God
• Hell Yeah
• Cracklin' Rosie
  
• America
• Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
• Sweet Caroline (2nd Reprise)
• Disc 2 (CD)
• Cherry Cherry
• Shilo
• Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)
• Love On The Rocks
• Forever In Blue Jeans
• September Morn
• America
• Heartlight
• Hell Yeah
• Pretty Amazing Grace

Read more...

Jackson Funeral Set, Rowe May Want Kids, Public Tired of Media Coverage

Staples Center has posted the following information on their website:

The Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles, California and simulcast inside to Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE across the street. A limited number of free tickets to both venues will be made available for Michael Jackson's fans to attend.

Due to the expected overwhelming demand, the following procedures have been set to accommodate registration for the tickets. Please note that by registering for tickets to attend the Public Memorial Service, it does NOT guarantee the registrant tickets.

The opportunity to register for tickets begins at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, July 3, 2009 and ends at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Please enter your information below for your chance to receive two tickets, that will be randomly distributed for either STAPLES Center or Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE to attend the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service. Only one entry per individual will be accepted. Registering to attend the Public Memorial Service is NOT a guarantee of tickets. Two tickets will be issued to each randomly selected attendee. Offer valid to residents of the United States only.

A spokesman in Los Angles has said that the service could have "the potential to impact public safety" and that those who are not able to obtain one of the 17,500 tickets should consider watching it on TV or the worldwide Internet stream.

11,000 of the tickets will be for the Staple Center where the service will be held while an additional 6,500 will be for the Nokia Theatre where there will be a simulcast. The ticket drawing will be held on Sunday and 8,750 sets of two will be given away. Shortly thereafter, 8,750 auctions will go up on eBay. OK, we made that last part up.

E! also has reported that Jackson will eventually be interred at Forrest Lawn Cemetary in the Hollywood Hills.

---

Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, has now said that she will fight for custody of their two children. She told KNBC that she is seeking a restraining order to keep Michael's father, Joe Jackson, away from 12-year-old Prince Michael and 11-year-old Paris.

Rowe originally gave up all claim to the children shortly after the couple's divorce but her rights were reinstated after a later court case.

---

Almost two out of every three Americans have said "enough already" with all the media coverage of Michael Jackson. Only 3% said there needed to be more.

Originally, most media critics were comparing the coverage to that of Elvis Presley's death in 1977 but many are now upping that assessment and comparing it to the death of Princess Diana.

Read more...

Chart Watch Canada: July 2, 2009

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

• As with the rest of the World, Michael Jackson is dominating the Canadian charts. On the album chart, he has seven of the top 100. Over in R&B, he has 15 of the top 50 albums.
  
• Amazingly, outside of the "premiers" of Jackson catalog albums, there are no other new entries on any of the charts by veteran artists.
• As of the time of this writing, the new singles chart had not been published. We will update it when the data is available.
  

Previous week position noted in parenthesis.

Top 100 Canadian Albums

• #1 (2) - The E.N.D. - Black Eyed Peas
• #2 (-) - Old Crows/Young Cardinals - Alexisonfire
  
• #3 (178) - Number Ones - Michael Jackson
• #4 (1) - Lines, Vines and Trying Times - Jonas Brothers
  
• #5 (4) - Now! 14 - Various Artists
  
• #14 (-) - Thriller 25 - Michael Jackson
• #15 (-) - Essential - Michael Jackson
• #22 (14) - Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani)
• #28 (-) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #35 (37) - Motown 50 - Various Artists
  
• #37 (22) - Live in London - Leonard Cohen
• #40 (-) - Bad (Remaster) - Michael Jackson
• #41 (25) - No Line on the Horizon - U2
• #43 (-) - Off the Wall (Remaster) - Michael Jackson
• #49 (31) - Black Ice - AC/DC
• #51 (58) - The Best of: 2oth Century Masters: The Millennium Collection - ABBA
• #53 (-) - Dangerous (Remaster) - Michael Jackson
• #56 (33) - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane - Elvis Costello
• #69 (50) - Piano Man - Billy Joel
  
• #77 (18) - Let It Roll - George Harrison
• #87 (87) - Best of The 20th Century - Creedence Clearwater
• #93 (92) - Live From Madison Square Garden - Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
• #94 (44) - Together Through Life - Bob Dylan
• #98 (63) - Flight 666 - Iron Maiden

Top 100 Canadian Singles (Not Yet Updated)

• #1 (1) - Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
  
• #2 (4) - Please Don't Leave Me - Pink
  
• #3 (3) - The Climb - Miley Cryus
• #4 (6) - Waking Up in Vegas - Katy Perry
  
• #5 (2) - LoveGame - Lady Gaga
  
• #47 (50) - Strange - Reba (McEntire)
  
• #77 (-) - Living For the Night - George Strait
  
• #81 (92) - Oh Yeah - Chickenfoot
  
• #90 (93) - Anything Goes - AC/DC

The rest of the Canadian charts are after the cut.

Top 50 Canadian R&B Albums

• #1 (1) - The E.N.D. - Black Eyed Peas
• #2 (20) - Number Ones - Michael Jackson
  
• #3 (2) - Relapse - Eminem
• #4 (71) - Thriller 25 - Michael Jackson
• #5 (76) - Essential - Michael Jackson
• #7 (-) - Thriller - Michael Jackson
• #8 (4) - Motown 50 - Various Artists
• #9 (-) - Bad (Remaster) - Michael Jackson
• #10 (-) - Off the Wall (Remaster) - Michael Jackson
• #12 (-) - Dangerous (Remaster) - Michael Jackson
• #17 (-) - Greatest Hits - Michael Jackson
  
• #19 (14) - Legend - Bob Marley & the Wailers
• #22 (8) - Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection - Ray Charles
• #26 (-) - Thriller (Remaster) - Michael Jackson
  
• #30 (-) - Greatest Hits, Volume 1 - Michael Jackson
  
• #36 (-) - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of - Jackson 5
  
• #39 (-) - Gold - Jackson 5
  
• #39 (-) - Ultimate Collection - Jackson 5
  
• #42 (-) - Gold - Michael Jackson
  
• #44 (-) - The Collection - Michael Jackson
  
• #45 (91) - Potato Hole - Booker T

Top 50 Canadian Country Albums

• #1 (1) - The Hannah Montana Movie - Original Soundtrack
  
• #2 (2) - Fearless - Taylor Swift
  
• #3 (4) - Dance With Me - Johnny Reid
  
• #4 (3) - Greatest Hits II - Kenny Chesney
  
• #5 (6) - Love on the Inside - Sugarland
• #18 (16) - Townes - Steve Earle
• #18 (24) - 30 #1 Hits - Elvis Presley
• #22 (15) - 127 Rose Avenue - Hank Williams, Jr.
  
• #23 (22) - Man in Black: His Greatest Hits - Johnny Cash
• #35 (25) - Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• #39 (35) - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of - George Strait
• #42 (41) - The Legend of - Johnny Cash
• #44 (28) - Troubadour - George Strait
• #45 (81) - Kenny Rogers - Kenny Rogers
  
• #46 (48) - I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits - Randy Travis
• #50 (73) - Very Best of - Dolly Parton

Top 50 Canadian Hard Rock Albums

• #1 (-) - Black Clouds & Silver Linings - Dream Theater
• #2 (-) - Transformers: Revenge - Soundtrack
  
• #3 (1) - Dark Horse - Nickelback
  
• #4 (2) - Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani)
• #5 (5) - Appeal to Reason - Rise Against
  
• #6 (3) - Black Ice - AC/DC
• #9 (6) - Flight 666 - Iron Maiden
• #13 (4) - Back From the Dead - Spinal Tap
• #14 (10) - Mothership - Led Zeppelin
• #16 (12) - Greatest Hits - Queen
• #20 (14) - Death Magnetic - Metallica
• #21 (16) - Back in Black - AC/DC
• #23 (18) - Metallica - Metallica
• #26 (20) - Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of - Aerosmith
• #35 (41) - Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi
• #36 (22) - Live - AC/DC
• #38 (36) - Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
• #39 (34) - Somewhere Back in Time: The Best of 1980-1989 - Iron Maiden
• #40 (27) - Master of Puppets - Metallica
• #41 (40) - Crossroads - Bon Jovi
• #47 (48) - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Edition: Best of - Aerosmith
• #49 (53) - Rock of Ages - Def Leppard

Read more...