Classic Hits

Howard Jones is hitting the road with Boy George & Culture Club on the Letting It Go Show, which also features Berlin. The package has a little bit of everything for the ’80s music lover, which is exciting for Jones.

“Wow. I mean, I’d love to go to that show,” he tells ABC Audio. “I mean, it’s a dream, really … it’s going to be great fun.” 

Fans of ’80s music are often a very loyal bunch, coming out for shows no matter how old they are, which is why Jones suspects each night will be filled with an audience reveling in the music they grew up on.

“You know, they feel an ownership of that music, and it’s their music and it comes with all the memories that go with that time when you’re in your, you know, late teens, early 20s,” the “No One Is To Blame” singer says. “And those memories are so vivid … it brings back the emotion that you felt at that time.”

And who knows, concertgoers may even get a chance to see Jones and Culture Club onstage together during the tour.

“You know, you can’t really tell until you get to the gig, and see how everyone is and where their heads at,” he says regarding a possible collaboration between acts. “I’m always up for a bit of collab myself, but, but other people may not. And so, let’s see how it goes.” 

The Boy George & Culture Club Letting It Go Show, with Howard Jones and Berlin, kicks off Thursday, July 13, in West Palm Beach, Florida. A complete list of Jones’ dates can be found at howardjones.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

While Bryan Adams is best known for his music, he’s also a skilled photographer — and now fans are getting a chance to see his latest work. The rocker will be the subject of a new exhibit, Bryan Adams in Colour, making its world premiere at the Atlas Gallery in Chicago on June 27 and running until August 12.  

According to the announcement, the exhibit was inspired by the phrase “seeing things through rose-tinted glasses.” It has him experimenting with multicolored plexiglass to share a new point of view of his catalog of portraits, including those of stars like Mick Jagger and Amy Winehouse.

The gallery notes it “adds even more to the sense of the celebrity appearing to be viewed as if behind a screen, at a distance from the viewer, but somehow also themselves trapped.”

More information on the exhibit can be found at atlasgallery.com.

As for his day job, Adams is currently on his So Happy It Hurts tour, with opener Joan Jett. The trek hits Phoenix, Arizona, on July 25. A complete list of dates can be found at bryanadams.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Boy George & Culture Club and Madness have been added to the entertainment lineup for the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023, taking place September 15 to 17.

Culture Club will headline the Zone 1 Wharf Stage on Saturday, September 16, while Madness will headline the same stage Sunday, September 17. In addition, Boy George is booked for a DJ set at the Twenty3 hospitality facility on September 17.

Other artists booked for the Singapore Grand Prix include Post Malone, Robbie Williams, Kings of Leon, Groove Armada and more.

Info on tickets can be found at sinagporegp.sg.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Later this week Cher is dropping a deluxe edition of her 1995 album, It’s a Man’s World, which features a selection of remixes, and she’s just dropped one of them: “Paradise Is Here (Sunrise Mix).”

It’s a Man’s World (Deluxe Edition) is being released July 14 digitally and as a four-LP or two-CD set. The limited edition LP set is the first time the album’s ever been pressed on vinyl. The LPs are pressed on red, blue, green and yellow vinyl, and come with an exclusive numbered lithograph.

Released in November 1995, It’s a Man’s World featured such hits as “One By One” and her cover of Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis.” “Paradise Is Here” is a cover of a Tina Turner track.

Cher’s It’s a Man’s World (Deluxe Edition) is available for preorder now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In 1970, Carly Simon was signed to Elektra Records by its founder, Jac Holzman, and that was the start of what is arguably the most iconic period of her career. Now, the recordings the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer made during that time have been collected in a new album called These Are the Good Old Days: The Carly Simon and Jac Holzman Story, due out September 15.

The 20 remastered songs on the album are mostly taken from Simon’s classic first three albums: 1971’s self-titled debut and Anticipation, and 1972’s No Secrets. There’s also a previously unreleased demo for the song “Alone” — which helped Carly land her record deal —and her take on John Prine‘s “Angel from Montgomery,” a song later made famous by Bonnie Raitt. You can hear Carly’s version of the song now on all digital platforms.

Among the hits on the album are “That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be,” “Anticipation,” “The Right Thing to Do” and “You’re So Vain.” Deep tracks like “Our First Day Together” and “The Love’s Still Growing” are also included.

In a statement, Carly says of working with Holzman, “There was never more care given to me. Never more respect, and I can surely say that I would never have become a performer had it not been for that first call from Jac after listening to my first little demo cassette.”

Holzman adds, “Carly and I created a lifelong friendship born from our ’70s music collaboration. I think the good and positive effect we had on each other resulted in records that were gifts for Carly fans and music lovers the world over.”

Here’s the vinyl track listing:

LP One: Side One
“Anticipation”
“It Was So Easy”
“Alone” – Demo
“The Best Thing”
“Dan, My Fling”

Side Two
“I’ve Got to Have You”
“The Love’s Still Growing”
“Summer’s Coming Around Again”
“Our First Day Together”
“Embrace Me, You Child”

LP Two: Side One
 “Legend In Your Own Time”
“That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be”
“The Carter Family”
“Angel From Montgomery”
 “Julie Through The Glass”

Side Two
“His Friends Are More Than Fond of Robin”
“Reunions”
“The Right Thing to Do”
“We Have No Secrets”
“You’re So Vain”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Elton John may finally get his EGOT.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s Disney+ concert special, Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium, just earned an Emmy nod for Outstanding Variety Special Live.

The special was a live telecast of Elton’s final North American stop on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which finally came to an end on Saturday, July 8, in Stockholm, Sweden. 

“It’s an honour for my Special to be recognized by the Academy,” Elton shared on Instagram. “My final Dodger Stadium performance was bittersweet and an evening that I will never forget.” He added that his production team and Disney+ “went above and beyond to create a magical production, not only for me as I said goodbye to North America, but for my fans all over the world to enjoy for years to come!!”

A win in the category will add Elton to the elusive group of entertainers who’ve won an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar. He’s won five Grammys, two Academy Awards and one Tony over the course of his career.

Elton does have stiff Emmy competition. Also nominated in the category are The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, the Oscars and the 75th Annual Tony Awards.

His special isn’t the only music-related nomination this year: The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert and Bono & The Edge: A Sort Of Homecoming With Dave Letterman will compete against Elton’s special for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special. Plus, the David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream was recognized with a nom for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi-Camera).

The 75th annual Emmy Awards will air September 18 on Fox.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Baseball Project is marking an unusual moment in baseball history. 

The supergroup, featuring R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and Peter Buck, The Minus 5‘s Scott McCaughey, The Dream Syndicate’s Steve Wynn and Filthy Friends‘ Linda Pitmon, just dropped the video for their song “Disco Demolition” to mark the 44th anniversary of Disco Demolition night, which took place July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

For those unaware, during Disco Demolition night, the Chicago White Sox invited fans to bring in their disco records, and amid the break between games of a double header, they blew them up on the field. Things didn’t go as planned, and fans soon stormed the now-ruined field, forcing the cancellation of the second game, which the White Sox had to forfeit.

“Disco Demolition” is the latest track off the band’s recently released fourth album, Grand Salami Time! The Baseball Project is due to hit the road later this summer, with the trek kicking off August 8 in Birmingham, Alabama. A complete list of dates can be found at baseballproject.net.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

On This Day, July 12, 1962…

The Rolling Stones – billed as The Rollin’ Stones – played their first live show at London’s Marquee Club.

At the time, the band consisted of Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, pianist Ian Stewart and bassist Dick Taylor; the drummer’s identity is disputed.

In December of that year, Bill Wyman replaced Taylor as bassist, and in February 1963, Charlie Watts joined the band on drums.

The Stones went on to become one of the most successful bands of all times, selling an estimated 200 million records. They also became one of the most successful touring bands, with 1997/1998’s Bridges to Babylon, 1994-1995’s Voodoo Lounge and 2005-2007’s A Bigger Bang among the highest grossing tours of all time.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The late Christine McVie is being remembered on what would have been her 80th birthday.

To mark the milestone, her former Fleetwood Mac bandmate Mick Fleetwood has released an instrumental version of the classic “Songbird,” which she wrote,  featuring ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.  The new take features a dedication by Mick at the end, “As the songbird sings, now from the heavens, to you Christine, I wish you all the love in the world. But, most of all, I wish it from myself.”

“Here we are thinking of you on your heavenly 80th birthday! For me, although missing you on this celebration of your 80th birthday…I like so many have the greatest memories in plenty! And most of all, your songs are lighting up the world on this your birthday,” Mick wrote on Instagram, adding, “You are loved and dearly missed.”

But that’s not the only way McVie’s being remembered. Rhino just announced plans to release remastered editions of two of her solo albums to celebrate.

First, digital and Dolby Atmos versions of her 2004 album In the Meantime has been released to streaming services. The new version was mixed by her nephew Dan Perfect and features the previously unreleased track “Little Darlin’.”

In addition, reissues of In the Meantime and her 1984 self-titled solo album will be released on November 3. Christine McVie will be released on CD and LP, with a cola-bottle clear vinyl version sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble. In the Meantime will come out on CD and as a two-LP set, that will feature a “songbird” etching.

Both albums are available for preorder now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

While lots of artists can appreciate their rock star contemporaries, apparently members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones didn’t quite understand the appeal of Led Zeppelin back in the day.

Producer/engineer Glyn Johns, who worked on both The Beatles’ Let It Be and Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin I, reveals on Rolling Stone’s Music Now podcast that George Harrison and Mick Jagger were not Zeppelin fans.

“When Zeppelin set up and started to play, I was literally pinned to the back wall by what I heard. It was nothing like what I expected,” Johns says. “But I remember taking the record and playing it to George Harrison on the way home from a Beatles session, and he didn’t like it at all.” 

He adds, “And I remember playing it to Mick Jagger, because I thought they should go on the Rock and Roll Circus [TV special]. And Mick didn’t like it at all either.”

One artist Johns is a big fan of is Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, sharing, “I don’t think he gets nearly enough credit to this day.”

“He really is quite remarkable … His technical ability is average, but his feel exceptional,” Johns says. “Also, what he does, where he puts what he plays is quite remarkable. And without him, they would not have been the same band. I don’t care what anybody says.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.