Classic Hits

Vanilla Fudge has announced plans to release a remastered version its 2007 cover of Led Zeppelin‘s “Ramble On” as a digital download and via streaming services on November 30.

The song is the third advance track from a remastered edition of a full Led Zeppelin covers album called Out Through the In Door that the band originally put out in 2007, and which will be released with a new title, Vanilla Zeppelin, and updated packaging at an as-yet-unannounced date.

You can pre-save the track now on Spotify and Apple Music, and also check out a 30-second clip of the tune, which features Vanilla Fudge putting their own keyboard-driven spin on the hard-rocking Led Zeppelin song. The other remastered Zeppelin cover that the band released in advance of the Vanilla Zeppelin album were “The Immigrant Song” and “Rock and Roll,” which arrived in September 2020 and March 2021, respectively.

Vanilla Fudge’s most recent release was a new cover of the classic 1965 Supremes hit “Stop in the Name of Love,” which the band issued in September. The track featured the final recording of original Fudge bassist Tim Bogert, who died of cancer in January of this year.

In other news, Vanilla Fudge has three concerts lined up this week that will feature the band supporting Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and his solo group. They take place in New York City at Sony Hall tonight and on Tuesday, November 16, and in Ridgefield, Connecticut, at the Ridgefield Playhouse on Wednesday, November 17.

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U2 has announced a deluxe reissue celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s 1991 album, Achtung Baby.

The package will arrive on vinyl November 19, followed by a digital release December 3. The digital version boasts a total of 50 tracks, including two sets of demos and a collection of B-sides, 22 of which have never been available before digitally.

For the full track listing, visit U2.com.

In celebration of the reissue, U2 is teaming up with artist Thierry Noir for a new art exhibition at Berlin’s Hansa Studios, where the band had started recording Achtung Baby. Noir, who was the first artist to paint on the Berlin Wall, previously contributed to the Achtung Baby artwork and pieces for the 1991 Zoo TV tour.

Released November 18, 1991, Achtung Baby marked U2’s return after they had to “go away” and “dream it all up again” following the end of the Rattle and Hum tour. In contrast to the Americana sounds of Rattle and Hum and The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby found U2 diving into more of an alternative sound, and started experimenting more with an electronic style that continued throughout their ’90s discography.

Achtung Baby is now certified eight-times Platinum by the RIAA, and spawned the singles “One,” “The Fly,” “Mysterious Ways,” “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” and “Even Better Than the Real Thing.”

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Turns out ABBA‘s comeback was something fans didn’t know they needed.

The group’s new albumm Voyage –– their first in about 40 years — has debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 album chart.  That’s the highest the iconic Swedish group has ever gotten on the chart, surprisingly. Prior to that, their top position was number 14, achieved by 1978’s ABBA: The Album.  That album featured the hit single “Take a Chance on Me.”

Overall, Voyage is ABBA’s 14th album to chart on the Billboard 200, not counting the hit Mamma Mia! movie soundtracks featuring the group’s music. Ironically, those two soundtracks performed better on the chart that any of ABBA’s original studio album releases: The original hit number one in 2008 and the sequel was number three in 2018.

Of note: Cher‘s album of ABBA covers, Dancing Queen, hit number three in 2019.

As previously reported, Voyage topped the charts in the U.K., where the group’s always been wildly popular, and had the biggest opening sales week since Ed Sheeran‘s Divide in 2017.

Voyage was created to promote the band’s upcoming concert experience, ABBA Voyage, which will open May 27 at a purpose-built arena in London.  The show features digital avatars of the group, looking as they did around 1979, performing onstage with a live ten-piece band.

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Journey has announced plans for a major 2022 North American tour that will also feature Billy Idol and Toto as support acts during different parts of the outing.

The 40-date trek, which has been dubbed the Freedom Tour 2022, is scheduled to get underway on February 22 in Pittsburgh and is plotted out through a May 11 show in Hartford, Connecticut.

Idol will open Journey’s concerts from February 22 through an April 5 performance in Los Angeles, while Toto join the trek on April 7 in San Diego and will continue to serve as the opening act for the remainder of the outing.

Tickets for nearly all the shows go on sale to the general public this Friday, November 19, via Ticketmaster starting at 10 a.m. local time. Pre-sale tickets will be available for Citi card members beginning this Tuesday, November 16, at 10 a.m. local time; for more pre-sale details, visit CitiEntertainment.com. A limited number of VIP packages also will be sold.

Interestingly, a press release about the tour listing Journey’s lineup doesn’t mention bassist Randy Jackson or drummer Narada Michael Walden, who were announced as the band’s new rhythm section in 2020 after the firing of longtime members Ross Valory and Steve Smith. Jackson hasn’t been playing at Journey’s 2021 concerts because he recently underwent back surgery, although Walden has been performing with the band alongside second drummer Deen Castronovo.

First up for Journey is the band’s previously announced series of 2021 Las Vegas shows in December, including a six-show residency at The Theater at Virgin Hotels running from December 1 through December 11, and a special symphonic performance on December 18 in Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Check out Journey’s full schedule at JourneyMusic.com.

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A documentary focusing on Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde‘s recently released covers album, Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan, will get its U.S. premiere on AXS TV on December 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

The film, Tomorrow Is a Long Time: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan, features Hynde, Pretenders guitarist James Walbourne and producer Tchad Blake discussing the project, which came together over the course of 15 weeks in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes renditions of nine Bob Dylan songs that Hynde recorded remotely with Walbourne.

The documentary also captures Chrissie reflecting on her appreciation for Dylan’s songs and her own passion for songwriting and shows off some of her personal paintings, as well as features footage of her and Walbourne performing many tunes that appear on the album.

You can check out a preview clip of the program on YouTube that features Hynde musing about whether rock ‘n’ roll has any rules, as well as Hynde and Walbourne performing the 1983 Dylan song “Sweetheart Like You.”

“You know, in rock ‘n’ roll, there’s rules, but there’s no rules,” Chrissie maintains in the clip. “I mean, to me…my version of rock ‘n’ roll is very different from someone else’s version. To me, it was anti-establishment…expressing yourself, doing your thing and kind of going against the establishment. For me personally, there wasn’t anything else. There wasn’t a rule.”

Standing in the Doorway was released this past May as a digital download and via streaming services on May 21, while CD and vinyl-LP editions followed in August.

Before the album’s release, the tracks premiered, one by one, along with a series of companion videos at The Pretenders’ official YouTube channel.

Here’s the Standing in the Doorway track list:

“In the Summertime”
“You’re a Big Girl Now”
“Standing in the Doorway”
“Sweetheart Like You”
“Blind Willie McTell”
“Love Minus Zero/No Limit”
“Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight”
“Tomorrow Is a Long Time”
“Every Grain of Sand”

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The Rolling Stones have partnered with the Tommy Hilfiger fashion company’s Tommy Jeans label on a new collection of Stones-themed t-shirts and sweatshirts dubbed “Tommy Revisited: Music Edition.”

The collection, which features six styles of tees and sweatshirts boasting the band’s iconic tongue-and-lips logo,  debuted today and is available at The Stones’ RS No.9 Carnaby shop in London and at the store’s website, Carnaby.TheRollingStonesShop.co.uk.

The apparel’s design was inspired by the tour merchandise The Rolling Stones and Tommy Hilfiger teamed up to create in 1999 for the band’s No Security tour.

The tees and sweatshirts are made from organic cotton and are available in unisex and female sizes.

In addition, three limited-edition items have been produced that are exclusively available at the RS No.9 Carnaby shop — a printed black t-shirt, a denim jacket and a long-sleeve sweatshirt. The latter two pieces are embroidered with multiple Stones logos.

Meanwhile, The Stones have three more concerts left on their 2021 No Filter Tour of the U.S. The shows are scheduled for this Monday, November 15, at Ford Field in Detroit; November 20 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas; and November 23 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

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In a new video interview posted at the Coda Collection website, Who frontman Roger Daltrey discusses a wide range of topics, including how he his feels about the possibility of the U.K. rock legends making another album.

Daltrey admits that he isn’t enthusiastic about a new album project because he doesn’t think it would make any money. “There’s no point in making any music if you can’t earn a living out of it. For me anyway…[W]hat’s the point,” he declares. “On the last record [2019’s WHO], it cost me money to make it. I don’t see the point in doing much of that, you know? I’m too working class for that.”

Roger continues, “I don’t know whether we will ever make any more new music, but I never say never. Let’s put it that way.”

Daltrey then comments that he only speaks to Who band mate Pete Townshend “once a year.” He adds, “I haven’t seen him for two years. I miss him, seeing him. Always enjoy seeing him. But we’re not that kind of friend. We don’t need to be. We know we’re there for each other. I’ve always been a bit of a loner anyway.”

Daltrey also shares his opinion about Paul McCartney‘s recent comment labeling The Rolling Stones “a blues cover band.”

“I know what he means, but The Stones have written some great songs,” Roger maintains. “But they are in the blues…format. It’s like comparing cheese and apples. They’re both very tasty, but the cheese does one thing and the apple does another.”

He also praises Mick Jagger, saying he’s “still the number-one rock ‘n’ roll showman.”

Check out the full Q&A at CodaCollection.co, which is the companion website for Amazon Prime’s music-themed pay streaming service, The Coda Collection.

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Eric Clapton‘s new live album and video The Lady in the Balcony: Lockdown Sessions, which features the guitar legend playing an intimate, mostly acoustic set with select members of his touring band, got its release today.

As previously reported, the performance was shot and recorded in February of this year at the Cowdray House country estate in West Sussex, U.K., with no audience except Eric’s wife, Melia, who watched from a balcony in the mansion — hence the release’s title.

Coinciding with The Lady in the Balcony‘s release, a video of Clapton’s performing a laid-back, unplugged version of his classic song “Layla” has premiered at his official YouTube channel. Slowhand is joined by Chris Stainton on keyboards, Nathan East on acoustic bass and Steve Gadd on drums.

Clapton organized the Cowdray House performance was organized after his May 2021 concerts at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lady in the Balcony is available as a DVD/CD or Blu-ray/CD set, a 4K UHD/Blu-ray package, a two-LP colored-vinyl set, as digital video and audio versions, and as a Deluxe Edition featuring the DVD, Blu-ray and CD housed in a 40-page hardback photo book. In addition, a standalone CD version is being sold exclusively at Target.

Here’s the full Lady in the Balcony track list:

“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”
“Golden Ring”
“Black Magic Woman”
“Man of the World”
“Kerry”
“After Midnight”
“Bell Bottom Blues”
“Key to the Highway”
“River of Tears”
“Rock Me Baby”
“Believe in Life”
“Going Down Slow”
“Layla”
“Tears in Heaven”
“Long Distance Call”
“Bad Boy”
“Got My Mojo Working”

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The first official clip from the highly anticipated three-part Disney+ documentary series The Beatles: Get Back has premiered on The Beatles‘ official YouTube channel and social media sites.

The one-minute, 25-second segment shows Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison gathered in a circle sitting on wooden chairs, with Ringo Starr at his drum kit behind them, as McCartney runs through his then-new song “I’ve Got a Feeling” with his band mates.

As Paul sings and plays the song, John adds some off-the-cuff backing vocals. When the tune hits the bridge section, McCartney calls out the chords to the rest of the group. As the clip ends, we see George ask Paul, “Is that one called ‘I’ve Got a Feeling’?” The tune wound up being released on The Beatles’ final studio album, 1970’s Let It Be.

As previously reported, The Beatles: Get Back — which was created from dozens of hours of unseen footage and audio recorded in January 1969 during sessions that yielded songs for Let It Be and the band’s next-to-last album, Abbey Road — will premiere on Disney+ over three days later this month, November 25, 26, and 27.

Each part of the series, which was directed by Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson, runs about two hours.

The preview clip follows last month’s premiere of an official trailer for the series, which features glimpses at more segments from the series, including scenes that show The Beatles preparing to give what became their last-ever live performance, the famous surprise concert on the roof of the Apple headquarters on London’s Savile Row. The entire rooftop performance will be seen in the series.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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The latest episode of PBS’ popular live performance series Austin City Limits features Jackson Browne, and it’ll premiere on Saturday, November 13, at 9 p.m. ET; check local listings.

Browne’s performance marks the lauded singer-songwriter’s first Austin City Limits appearance since 2002. The program was recorded recently at ACL‘s studio in Austin, Texas, and features Jackson backed by an eight-piece band playing to a limited audience.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s set includes three songs from his latest album, 2021’s Downhill from Everywhere, as well as select tunes from throughout his decades-long career, like “These Days,” “Doctor My Eyes” and “Take It Easy.”

“It’s like Valhalla for us, getting to play Austin City Limits,” Browne comments during the show. For a rendition of the Downhill from Everywhere track “A Human Touch,” Jackson is joined by singer-songwriter Leslie Mendelson, who co-wrote the tune.

Jackson brings the show to a close with a medley of two songs from his classic 1973 album For Everyman: The Eagles‘ hit “Take It Easy” — which Browne co-wrote — and “Our Lady of the Well.”

Browne wrote “Take It Easy” with late Eagles member Glenn Frey. While introducing the tune, he asks the audience, “You wanna sing this one? Sing it so Glenn Frey can hear you!”

You can check out a preview clip from the episode featuring a performance of the Downhill from Everywhere song “My Cleveland Heart” on YouTube.

Browne recently launched a new leg of his joint U.S. tour with James Taylor. The next show, which takes place in Jacksonville, Florida, is also scheduled for this Saturday. Visit JacksonBrowne.com to see his full tour schedule.

Here’s Browne’s full ACL set list:

“I’m Alive”
“The Long Way Around”
“My Cleveland Heart”
“The Dreamer”
“These Days”
“A Human Touch”
“Doctor My Eyes”
“Late for the Sky”
“Take It Easy”/”Our Lady of the Well”

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