Classic Hits

Keith Richards is paying tribute to the late Lou Reed on what would have been the rocker’s 82nd birthday.

The Rolling Stones guitarist has just shared a cover of “I’m Waiting for the Man,” a track he recorded for the upcoming compilation The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed. It will be available on vinyl exclusively at independent retailers for Record Store Day on April 20, with the CD and digital release happening the same day.

“To me, Lou stood out,” Richards shared. “The real deal! Something important to American music and to ALL MUSIC! I miss him and his dog.”  

You can listen to “I’m Waiting for the Man” now via digital outlets and watch the video on YouTube.

In addition to Richards, The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed features covers by such artists as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Rickie Lee Jones, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams and Rosanne Cash.

“I’m Waiting for the Man,” written by Reed, was released by his band Velvet Underground in 1967. It appeared on their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico.

Here is the track list for The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed:

“I’m Waiting for the Man” – Keith Richards
“I Can’t Stand It” – Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen
“Perfect Day” – Rufus Wainwright
“I’m So Free” – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
“Sally Can’t Dance” – Bobby Rush
“Walk on the Wild Side” – Rickie Lee Jones
“I Love You, Suzanne” – The Afghan Whigs
“Coney Island Baby” – Mary Gauthier
“Legendary Hearts” – Lucinda Williams
“New Sensations” – Automatic
“Magician” – Rosanne Cash
“The Power of the Heart” – Brogan Bentley

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Def Leppard is sharing a previously unreleased demo from their classic album Pyromania.

The band has just released “Photograph – Rough Mix Version (Unfinished Vocal),” which will appear on the upcoming 40th anniversary deluxe edition of Pyromania. The track doesn’t sound too far off from the original, although it is missing some production and the background vocals during the chorus.

“Photograph” was the lead single off Pyromania and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The 40th anniversary edition of Pyromania will be released as a four-CD + Blu-Ray box set featuring the original album, a full disc of unheard demos, two live concerts and more. It will also be released digitally, as a one-LP half-speed master, and on two-LP black vinyl and two-LP colored vinyl.

All formats are available for preorder now.

Def Leppard will be spending their summer performing “Photograph” and more when they hit the road with Journey for a stadium tour. The trek, featuring special guests Steve Miller Band, Heart and Cheap Trick, kicks off July 6 in St. Louis, Missouri. A complete list of dates can be found at defleppard.com.

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The Kinks’ Dave Davies continues to set the record straight regarding rumors Jimmy Page played guitar on the band’s classic tune “You Really Got Me.”

As previously reported, Dave recently took issue with a Guitar World article that suggested producer Eddie Kramer had confirmed a long-held rumor that Jimmy played on the song, not Dave. That prompted a strong denial from Dave, who noted on social media that he had spoken to Kramer, who denied he made the comments. 

Well, Guitar World later posted the audio of the Kramer interview, which seemed to back their story. The post did note, “As per our story, we at no point suggest Page’s contributions appear on the final version of You Really Got Me we all know and love.” Dave thanked them for the clarification. 

But Dave also shared a message Kramer sent to him in which he confirmed that he remembered Dave’s guitar sound on the song, noting, “As for Jimmy playing on your session, that’s not clear in my memory.” 

And Dave also shared a statement from his brother and Kinks bandmate Ray Davies, who backs him up. He wrote, “The rumor is untrue. I was standing in the room next to Dave when YRGM was recorded and J Page was nowhere to be seen.”  

Rumors that Page appeared on the song have been circulating for years, but both Dave and Page have denied them.

“You Really Got Me” hit #1 in the U.K. and was the band’s breakthrough hit in the U.S., peaking at #7 on the chart. It was covered by Van Halen on their 1978 self-titled debut.

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Bruce Springsteen is looking back at his 50-year career with a new compilation album.

Best of Bruce Springsteen, dropping April 9, will feature a collection of The Boss’ hits, early career favorites, live staples and more, marking the first time his career-spanning works have been together in one set. 

The release features 18 tracks, including such classics as “Born To Run,” “Hungry Heart,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Thunder Road,” “Growin’ Up” and “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” along with newer tunes like “Hello Sunshine” and “Letter To You.”

Best of Bruce Springsteen, available for preorder now, will be released as a single CD or two-LP set, with a colored vinyl set sold exclusively through Amazon. The digital release will be expanded to 31 songs, with additions like “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out,” “Badlands,” “The River” and “Glory Days.”

The release will come just weeks after Springsteen and the E Street Band return to the road. The latest leg of their tour is set to kick off March 19 in Phoenix, Arizona. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

Here is the track list for Best of Bruce Springsteen:

“Growin’ Up”
“Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)”
“Born To Run”
“Thunder Road”
“Badlands”
“Hungry Heart”
“Atlantic City”
“Dancing in the Dark”
“Born in the U.S.A”
“Brilliant Disguise”
“Human Touch”
“Streets of Philadelphia”
“The Ghost of Tom Joad”
“Secret Garden”
“The Rising”
“Girls In Their Summer Clothes”
“Hello Sunshine”
“Letter To You”

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On This Day, March 1, 1995 …

R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry collapsed onstage at the Patinoire Auditorium in Lausanne, Switzerland, after suffering a brain aneurysm.

The band was on tour in support of their ninth studio album, Monster. It was their first tour in six years.

Berry underwent surgery and R.E.M. wound up canceling the rest of the tour’s European leg. He was able to rejoin them once the tour resumed in the United States in May of that year.

It wound up being Berry’s last tour with R.E.M. He announced his departure from the group in October 1997, and R.E.M. continued on as a three piece. They would eventually announce their breakup in 2011.

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The Who infamously sang, “I hope I die before I get old” in their hit “My Generation.” But luckily for music fans, that wish hasn’t come true for frontman Roger Daltrey, who’s celebrating his 80th birthday on March 1. 

In 1959, Daltrey founded a band called The Detours, with a changing lineup that only became permanent in 1964, after the band had changed their name to The Who and Keith Moon joined as drummer. Daltrey, Moon, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle went on to sell over 100 million records worldwide.

Daltrey launched a solo career in 1973, releasing eight solo studio albums, and dabbled in acting, with roles in film and on TV. He also published his memoir, Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story, in 2018.

As a member of The Who, Daltrey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. He received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008. He was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to music, entertainment and charity in 2004.

Daltrey is also well known for his extensive charitable work, including his patronage of the United Kingdom’s Teenage Cancer Trust and its U.S. counterpart, Teen Cancer America. In fact, he recently announced that after 24 years he’ll be stepping down as host and curator of the annual Teenage Cancer Trust charity shows.

Before that he’ll keep on rocking for the charity, with The Who set to headline two shows, March 18 and 20, at London’s Royal Albert Hall.  

And Daltrey’s time as curator will be celebrated at the same venue on March 24 with Ovation, a Celebration of 24 Years of Gigs for TCT, featuring guests Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones and Paul Weller.

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The Black Crowes are gearing up for the release of their new album, Happiness Bastards, and they’re giving fans a chance to preview it early.

Brothers Chris and Rich Robinson just announced a string of listening parties, happening March 14 at indie record stores across the country. The parties will feature giveaways and give fans a chance to purchase the album early.

The Black Crowes gave fans their first taste of Happiness Bastards, their first album of new material in 15 years, with the release of “Wanting and Waiting” and then followed that up with the track “Cross Your Fingers.” The album is available for preorder now.

They’ll hit the road on the Happiness Bastards tour starting April 2 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. A complete list of dates can be found at theblackcrowes.com.

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After a more than 50-year career, Foghat is still rocking out onstage, and now they are giving fans at home a taste of their live show.

The band will release Slow Ride – Live in Concert, a new CD/DVD, on April 5, featuring a 1999 Texas concert recorded prior to Foghat co-founder Dave Peverett’s death in February 2000.

The concert features the band performing some of their classic tracks. They’re previewing the record with the release of a live performance of their iconic tune “Slow Ride.”

You can listen to the live “Slow Ride” now via digital outlets and watch the performance on YouTube.

Slow Ride – Live in Concert is available for preorder now.

Foghat released their latest studio album, Sonic Mojo, in 2023. They are currently on the road with their Sonic Mojo tour and are set to play Lynn, Massachusetts, on March 1. A complete list of dates can be found at foghat.com.

Here is the track list for Slow Ride – Live in Concert:

“Drivin’ Wheel”
“Somebody’s Been Sleepin’ In My Bed”
“Stone Blue”
“It Hurts Me Too”
“Rock Your House”
“Sweet Home Chicago”
“Angel Of Mercy”
“Fool For The City”
“I Just Want To Make Love To You”
“Slow Ride”

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Three cassette tapes featuring previously unheard audio from The Beatles is set to go up for auction in March.

The tapes, believed to have been made in 1966, are personal recordings made on drummer Ringo Starr‘s tape recorder, and feature 248 minutes of audio. On one of the tapes he’s heard describing them as “a talking record of our trip to Germany and Japan.” 

The audio includes the band talking about their set list for shows in Japan, clips of performances from their Budokan concerts, Ringo’s thoughts on the tours, a demo of Ringo performing The Beatles tune “Don’t Pass Me By,” a clip of manager Brian Epstein discussing how to get out of paying import taxes when purchasing items in Japan and more.

All three tapes are being auctioned off as part of Omega Auctions’ Beatles Collection auction. The sale is set to begin on March 26, with the estimated price for the cassettes between $12,000 and $25,000.

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A new U.K. poll finds that the majority of folks wish they could tickle the ivories just like Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

The U.K. Express reports that a poll of 2,000 Brits, conducted by Trinity College London, finds that 53% of them wish they had learned how to play piano, with 32% of those folks picking Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” as the tune they wish they knew how to play. 

Elton John’s “Your Song” is close behind in second place, followed by John Lennon’s “Imagine,” with Adele’s “Someone Like You” and Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” rounding out the top five.

The almost six-minute “Bohemian Rhapsody” was the lead single off Queen’s 1975 album, A Night at the Opera, and went on to sell over 6 million copies worldwide. The track reached 2 billion streams on Spotify in December 2022.

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