Classic Hits – Page 18

New book highlights Beatles producer George Martin’s famous scores

January 15, 2026 by WDNY Radio

A new book about legendary Beatles producer George Martin‘s work is being released in celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday.

George Martin: The Scores is described as “the first-ever definitive collection of the legendary producer’s original music manuscripts.”

The three-volume book will be released in April. It contains a forward by Paul McCartney, as well as full-sized reproductions of Martin’s handwritten scores, including those for songs like “Yesterday,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “Live and Let Die.” The book also contains commentary, and new orchestral recordings from Abbey Road Studios, which “allows the reader to experience Martin’s arrangements on their own.”

“It’s a book of art, if you like, because his scores are very beautiful,” Martin’s son Giles Martin tells Rolling Stone. “There’s a fluidity to it. There’s a vibrancy to looking at that music on a page.”

The project was in development before Martin’s death in 2016 at age 90. He would have turned 100 on Jan. 3.

George Martin: The Scores is being released in three different formats — standard edition, deluxe edition and signature edition — with varying bonus material. Among the extras is documentary footage from the orchestral recording sessions in the deluxe and signature editions, with the latter also including a signature page signed by George at the beginning of the project.

All three are available for preorder now.

See Rod Stewart lead a pub sing-along in Scotland

January 15, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Rod Stewart will sing anywhere — even in a Scottish pub on a weeknight.

The Glasgow Times reports that Rod was in the Scottish city of Falkirk on Wednesday to watch his favorite soccer team, Celtic, play. In video shared on the Instagram Story of his Wolfie’s whisky brand, Rod can be seen doing karaoke to the song “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, accompanied by his son Alastair Stewart and others.

According to the paper, as he left the pub Rod hugged one of the customers and said, “Cheers everybody, God bless.”

Rod released his version of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” as the first single from his 2006 album, Still the Same… Great Rock Classics of Our Time, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ sets Hulu debut

January 15, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is set for its streaming debut.

The film, starring The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White as The Boss and Jeremy Strong as his manager, Jon Landau, will debut on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ Jan. 23. It also stars Stephen Graham, Paul Walter Hauser and Gaby Hoffmann.

Directed by Scott Cooper, the movie follows Springsteen’s efforts to make his 1982 solo album, Nebraska. The album featured 10 acoustic songs Springsteen originally recorded as demos on a four-track recorder. He’d planned to rerecord them with the E Street Band but instead released them as a solo acoustic record.

As previously announced, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere will also be released on 4K Blu-ray on Jan. 20, with the release including the four-act documentary Making Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.

The documentary’s four parts cover the process of adapting Warren Zanes’ 2023 book, Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, for the big screen; a look at the album Nebraska; a deep dive into actor White’s process of becoming Springsteen for the film; and what it took to capture Springsteen’s New Jersey during the era of the movie.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Hulu.

On This Day, Jan. 15, 2024: Elton John won an Emmy for ‘Farewell From Dodger Stadium’

January 15, 2026 by WDNY Radio

On This Day, Jan. 15, 2024…

Elton John won the Emmy for outstanding variety special live for Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium, the live Disney+ special documenting his final North American concert.

Elton was unable to attend the Los Angeles ceremony because he was recovering from knee surgery.

The win made Elton an EGOT, as he had already two Oscars, a Tony and six Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.

With the win, the “Rocket Man” singer became the 19th person ever to achieve a competitive EGOT. Six additional people have won an EGOT with noncompetitive or honorary awards.

Bob Weir celebration of life happening Saturday in San Francisco

January 15, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The life of Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir will be celebrated with a gathering Saturday in San Francisco, birthplace of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band.

Homecoming: Celebrating the life of Bobby Weir, will take place at Civic Center Plaza at 12:45 p.m. PT, and will be free and open to the public.

An announcement on social media describes Weir as an artist “whose music, spirit, and humanity shaped generations,” noting, “Together, we will pay tribute in the community and collective heartbeat that he created.”

“A short sacred stop on his homecoming journey, the gathering will center on gratitude, remembrance, and togetherness, along with special tributes to honor Bobby,” the announcement continues.

It’s important to note, the celebration is not a concert and there will be no live music. There will be a procession ahead of the celebration that will travel three blocks down Market Street starting at 12:30 p.m.

Fans interested in being at the celebration are asked to RSVP prior to attending.

Weir’s death was announced on social media Saturday, January 10. He was 78. According to the announcement he was diagnosed with cancer in July, and had started undergoing treatment just weeks before Dead & Company would take the stage in August for three shows at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Although he beat cancer, he ultimately “succumbed to underlying lung issues.”

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr & more donate to MusiCares Charity Relief Auction

January 15, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Personal items and memorabilia from artists like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Foreigner and Phil Collins are among the pieces up for grabs as part of this year’s MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, held every year to support the charitable arm of the Recording Industry.

Among the items being offered: a signed and personalized copy of McCartney’s 2021 book The Lyrics: 1965 to Present; a drum head and a T-shirt signed by Starr; a giclee print of Collins, signed by Collins; and an Epiphone Les Paul Special electric guitar in satin black, autographed by the members of Foreigner.

The auction also includes: a Hotel California painting with photos, autographed by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder; a leather jacket signed by Culture Club’s Boy George; wristwatches made from clothing owned by Iggy Pop and Nirvana‘s Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic; a jacket worn by Cher in promos for Saturday Night Live; and a Gibson “Jessica” Les Paul Standard guitar signed by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.

The auction will take place live at the Recording Academy in Santa Monica, California, and online at JuliensAuctions.com on Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. ET. The proceeds will fund MusiCares‘ mission to help music professionals who need financial support in times of crisis.

Ronnie Wood’s guitars highlight new career-spanning anthology

January 14, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood is the subject of a new career-spanning book.

Fearless: The Anthology, from Genesis Publications, has Wood opening up his personal archive in a book for the first time and features photos of rare instruments, designer stage wear, concert set lists and more.

The book highlights hundreds of guitars Wood used over the course of his career with the Jeff Beck Group, Faces and The Stones. Some of them have rarely been seen before, with Ronnie sharing stories behind the instruments in his own words.

The description notes, “Every detail – the colors, patina, wear and tear, and unique modifications – has been captured to tell the story of Ronnie’s extraordinary journey through music.”

Only 1,000 copies of the book are being produced and are available in two formats. Both are signed and come with a variety of extras.

They are both available for preorder now and are expected to ship in May.

Grateful Dead’s Bill Kreutzmann pays tribute to Bob Weir

January 14, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann has shared his thoughts on his late bandmate Bob Weir, whose death was announced Saturday.

In a lengthy post on Instagram, Kreutzmann recounts their first meeting and all the fun they had in the early days of the Grateful Dead.

“Together, we embarked on a journey without a destination,” he writes. “We didn’t set out to change the world, or to become big stars, or to have our own counterculture — we didn’t know any of those things were actually possible and we wouldn’t have been very interested in them even if we did. Well, not too much, anyway. Just enough to dream.”

“I once heard Bobby refer to himself as ‘the greatest rhythm guitar player in the world’ and it made me chuckle lightheartedly at my brother’s boastfulness,” he continues. “The thing is… he was probably right. Time has proven that nobody will ever be able to replace Jerry Garcia — or Phil Lesh — and time will prove the same for Bob Weir.”

“There are so many people who can rightfully say that their life would not have been the same without Bob Weir,” he adds. “That’s been true for me since I was 17. And through it all, the high times and the low tides, my love for him will not, indeed can not, fade away.”

Finally, Kreutzmann asks, “In the end, what more was there for him to do? He played it all… and never the same way, twice. I think he had finally said everything he had to say and now he’s on to the next thing. I just hope he was able to bring his guitar with him or otherwise he’ll go crazy.”

Grateful Dead was co-founded by Weir, Kreutzmann, Garcia, Lesh and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan in 1965, with drummer Mickey Hart and lyricist Robert Hunter joining the group in 1967. Kreutzmann and Hart are now the last two surviving members of the band.

Peter Criss responds to Gene Simmons’ accusations about the writing of KISS’ ‘Beth’

January 14, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Peter Criss has responded to a recent Gene Simmons interview in which he claimed Criss didn’t deserve a songwriting credit on KISS‘ 1976 hit “Beth.”

The track, which peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, is credited to Criss, the late Stan Penridge and producer Bob Ezrin.

Simmons made the claim during an interview with the Professor of Rock podcast, saying, “Peter had nothing to do with that song. He sang it. … The mythology of ‘Beth’ is exactly that: mythology.” He argued Criss got the writing credit because he was “lucky enough to be in the same place at the same time as a guy who wrote” it.

But Criss told Billboard Simmons’ version of events is “not correct.”

“Gene wouldn’t know how the song was originally written because Gene wasn’t there from the conception of the song in the late ‘60s and he wasn’t there for the completion of the song with Bob Ezrin,” Criss said. “Gene’s statements are ridiculous and very uncalled for; he talks about things that he doesn’t know about.”

Criss said he wrote the melody and created the phrasing of the song’s original demo, then titled “Beck,” with Penridge. He also said that even though Simmons claimed it was his idea to change the title, it was Ezrin who changed it.

Ezrin also told Billboard that Simmons’ account is “not exactly how I remember it.”

“I believe from what I was told that the original song was written by Criss and Penridge and was called ‘Beck.’ It was a bit rockier and more macho,” he said. “I felt it had potential, so I asked to take it home and play with it a bit.”

Criss noted, “I would not put my name on a song I had nothing to do with. That is not who I am. I would not do that.”

Peter Gabriel to release physical copies of ‘In the Big Room’ and ‘Live at WOMAD 1982’

January 14, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Peter Gabriel has announced the CD and LP release of two live albums that he released to digital services in 2025. The rocker is set to drop In the Big Room on March 13 and Live at WOMAD 1982 on May 8.

In the Big Room is a recording of an intimate fan club show that took place in November 2003 in the Big Room at Gabriel’s Real World Studios in the U.K. The 14-track album features songs Gabriel performed during two tours: the 2002-03 Growing Up Live tour and 2004’s Still Growing Up Live tour. The album features performances of songs like “In Your Eyes,” “Shock the Monkey,” “Digging in the Dirt” and “More Than This.”

Live at WOMAD 1982 captures Gabriel’s performance at his first WOMAD festival, which stood for World of Music, Arts and Dance. The concert took place in Somerset, England, and featured 60 bands from over 20 countries. The album features a recording of Gabriel’s Friday night set, which included seven songs from his album 4, which was released two months after the event.

Both physical releases are available for preorder now.

Gabriel recently announced that he’ll be releasing a new album in 2026, o/i, and will drop a new song with each full moon of the year. The entire album will be released by the end of 2026.

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