Classic Hits

War has been celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and as part of the festivities, a new animated video looking at the stories behind some of the funk/rock/soul group’s biggest hits has debuted at the band’s official YouTube channel.

The “Behind the Hits” clip features commentary by founding singer/keyboardist Lonnie Jordan and producer/songwriter Jerry Goldstein, who helped put the band together with its original lead singer, Eric Burdon of The Animals.

The video briefly touches on the band’s formation and also looks at such classic songs as “Slippin’ into Darkness,” “The World Is a Ghetto,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Don’t Let No One Get You Down,” “Low Riders” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” The clip also notes that War songs have been heard in a variety of movies and TV shows, including Cheech & Chong‘s Up in Smoke, Gone in 60 Seconds, Dazed and Confused, Lethal Weapon 4, Friday, The Simpsons, and Mayans M.C.

The “Behind the Hits” video arrives in advance of a new War compilation titled Greatest Hits 2.0 that’s scheduled to be released on October 29 as a two-CD set, a two-LP vinyl collection, digitally and via streaming services. The 24-track album is a career-spanning sequel to the band’s platinum-certified 1976 Greatest Hits retrospective. You can pre-order Greatest Hits 2.0 now.

War currently is on tour and has more than a dozen 2021 dates on its schedule. Visit War.com for more information.

Here’s the Greatest Hits 2.0 track list:

Disc 1
“Spill the Wine” — Eric Burdon & War
“Tobacco Road” — Eric Burdon & War
“All Day Music”
“Get Down”
“Slippin’ into Darkness”
“The World Is a Ghetto”
“The Cisco Kid”
“Gypsy Man”
“Me and Baby Brother”
“Why Can’t We Be Friends?”
“Don’t Let No One Get You Down”
“Heartbeat”

Disc 2
“Low Rider”
“So”
“Smile Happy”
“Summer”
“L.A. Sunshine”
“Galaxy”
“Youngblood (Livin’ in the Streets)”
“Good, Good Feelin'”
“Cinco de Mayo”
“You Got the Power”
“Outlaw”
“Peace Sign”

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The latest episode of Queen‘s weekly YouTube video series Queen The Greatest premiered today, and it features profile a profile of the band’s memorable hit 1981 duet with David Bowie, “Under Pressure.”

The installment tells the story of how the track came together using interview footage with Bowie; Queen members Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor; and producer Reinhold Mack.

The episode begins by explaining how after Queen had purchased Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, the band was working on new music there in 1981 when engineer David Richards made an impromptu phone call to Bowie.

Bowie notes in an archival interview clip, “[Richards] knew that I was in town, and phoned me up and asked me if I’d…like to go down and see what was happening. So I went down and…suddenly you’re writing something together and it was totally spontaneous. It certainly wasn’t planned.”

Taylor remembers that the band and Bowie were drunk and jamming on “all sorts of old songs,” and then David said, “Look, hang on a minute, why don’t we write one of our own?”

A separate interview clips, Taylor, May and Mack recalled how Queen bassist John Deacon came up with the catchy bass riff that really got the track going.

Roger added that it was Bowie idea to put in various clicks and claps, and the track just grew from there.

“Under Pressure” was released in October of 1981 and became Queen’s second #1 hit in the U.K., after “Bohemian Rhapsody,” while peaking at #22 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100.

After Mercury’s death in 1991, Bowie famously teamed up with Eurythmics‘ Annie Lennox and Queen’s surviving members to perform “Under Pressure” at the historic 1992 tribute concert for Freddie at London’s Wembley Stadium.

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“If I Could Turn Back Time” has become one of Cher‘s signature songs — but not without some convincing from songwriter Diane Warren. 

Looking back on one of the many timeless hits she’s written, Diane recalls how she had to beg the icon to record the song, which became a worldwide hit and marked a resurgence in Cher’s career. 

“She hated it,” Diane shares with People. “I went to the studio and literally got on my knees and said, ‘I’ll pay for it. If you don’t like it, don’t use it.’ She agreed. I remember looking at her in the booth and the look on her face when she sang the opening line like, ‘You b****, you were right.'”

The multi-hit songwriter adds that she had a similar experience with Toni Braxton, who was initially hesitant to record “Un-Break My Heart.” The song turned into a multi-platinum hit and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 1997 Grammy Awards.

“She didn’t want to do the song. I told her, ‘You’re going to win a Grammy for this vocal,’ and she did. People should listen. I know what I’m talking about!” Diane expresses. 

After spending nearly four decades penning a multitude of hits, Diane is stepping into the spotlight with her debut album, The Cave Session Vol. 1, available now, featuring collaborations with Celine Dion, Carlos Santana, John Legend, Maren Morris and more.  

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Queen drummer Roger Taylor recently announced plans to release his first solo album in over eight years, Outsider, on October 1, and now the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has premiered the first single from the record, “We’re All Just Trying to Get By.”

The track features guest vocals by award-winning Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall, and is available now as a digital download and via streaming services.

You also can check out a music video for the tune at Taylor’s official YouTube channel. The clip features footage of Roger in a recording studio singing and playing piano and slide guitar — but not the drums — and Tunstall singing her parts separately.

Taylor wrote the dreamy pop tune during the COVID-19 lockdown while reflecting on what ties all living things together.

“I tried to highlight the great things in life,” he explains. “It’s the simplest statement, really. It’s what every life force on Earth is doing: just trying to get by and proliferate and exist. That’s all we are trying to do, from plants to animals to humans, trying to survive…Also, of course, we are in the middle of a bloody pandemic.”

Regarding Tunstall’s participation in the recording, Roger notes, “The track was all finished, and it was suggested it might be nice if we got KT involved…I love what she did, I think it really adds to the track…She’s a very talented singer and musician, and it’s lovely to have her on the track.”

Adds Tunstall, “What a pleasure to work with such a brilliant writer and musical hero.”

Outsider, which can be pre-ordered now, is available on CD, as a vinyl LP and on cassette.

Taylor will promote the album on a U.K. solo tour in October.

Here’s Outsider‘s full track list:

“Tides”
“I Know, I Know, I Know”
“More Kicks”
“Absolutely Anything”
“Gangsters Are Running This World”
“We’re All Just Trying to Get By” — featuring KT Tunstall
“Gangsters Are Running This World” (Purple Version)
“Isolation”
“The Clapping Song”
“Outsider”
“Foreign Sand” (English Mix)
“Journey’s End”

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The Rolling Stones are planning to go through with their 2021 U.S. trek following the death of drummer Charlie Watts on Tuesday, according to the tour’s promoter.

“The Rolling Stones’ tour dates are moving ahead as planned,” the promoter, Concerts West, says in a statement, RollingStone.com reports.

The U.S. leg of the band’s No Filter Tour, which was rescheduled from 2020 after being postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is slated to get underway September 26 in St. Louis and is mapped out through a November 20 show in Austin, Texas. The trek features 12 dates, and tickets can be purchased at VividSeats.com.

Earlier this month, The Rolling Stones announced that Watts likely wouldn’t be joining them on the tour because he was recovering from an unspecified medical procedure. According to the announcement, Steve Jordan, who played drums on all of Keith Richards‘ solo albums, was picked by Charlie to “stand in” for him on the trek.

According to a statement from his spokesperson, Watts “passed away peacefully in a London hospital [on Tuesday] morning surrounded by his family.” He was 80.

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Mariah Carey takes the holidays very seriously and, with 120 days to go before the big day, she has further solidified her reputation as the Queen of Christmas by rolling out with an official holiday figurine.

The “Fantasy” singer teamed with toymaker Funko to roll out an Amazon exclusive “Diamond Glitter” figurine, which marries the outfits she wore for her iconic “All I Want for Christmas Is You” music video and the sparkly getup she wore for her Apple TV+ Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.

The fabulous figure shows Carey in a sparkling Santa jumpsuit, complete with silver snow boots, black Santa belt, and a shimmering fuzzy neckline and cuffs. Instead of a Santa hat, Carey’s hair is stylishly coiffed and dramatically swept over her left eye.

The four-inch statue is available for preorder now and ships December 10. It retails for $13.99.

This item may have been inspired by last year’s incident in which an unauthorized ornament that supposedly looked like the five-time Grammy winner was sold. After a fan showed off their new decoration on Twitter, Mariah hilariously replied, “This is… Not approved” and gently added, “But it’s the thought that counts” in parenthesis.

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KISS was forced to cancel its concert Thursday night in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, after Paul Stanley tested positive for COVID-19.

“Tonight’s KISS show at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA is unfortunately postponed due to Paul Stanley testing positive for COVID,” the band announced on its official website Thursday. “More information about show dates will be made available ASAP. Everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew, are fully vaccinated.”

The message continues, “The band and their crew have operated in a bubble independently to safeguard everyone as much as possible at each show and in between shows. The tour also has a COVID safety protocol officer on staff full-time that is ensuring everyone is closely following all CDC guidelines.”

Stanley also took to his personal Twitter page to squash rumors that the Kiss frontman was having heart problems, insisting, “PEOPLE!!! I am fine! I am not in ICU! My heart allows me to do 26 miles a day on my bike! I don’t know where this came from but it’s absolute nonsense.”

In addition, the venue issued a statement on Twitter assuring ticketholders that the concert will be rescheduled and that “[a]ll previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date once announced.” Ticketholders will be updated directly by email.

This is the second concert KISS was forced to postpone since kicking off the 2021 leg of its End of the Road World Tour on August 18 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The band postponed its August 22 show in Hartford, Connecticut, because of Hurricane Henri.

KISS’ farewell tour was launched in January 2019 and was originally scheduled to conclude in New York City on July 17, 2021, but is now expected to last well into 2022.

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Alice Cooper will be heading to the Motor City area next month for an in-store signing event to promote his latest studio album, Detroit Stories.

On September 23, the shock rocker will visit the Rock City Music Company in the Detroit suburb of Livonia, Michigan, where he’ll sign copies of the album for fans.

This will mark the first time Cooper has participated in this type of event in or near Detroit since 1999.

Detroit Stories, which was released in February, is Cooper’s homage to the hard-edged rock music of his childhood hometown. The album features contributions from various guest musicians, including the three other surviving members of the original Alice Cooper group, plus ex-Grand Funk Railroad frontman Mark Farner, MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels drummer Johnny “Bee” Badanjek.

“I’m excited to do an album signing in Detroit again, especially for the Detroit Stories album, and for all the Detroit fans,” says Alice. “Detroit still feels like home in so many ways. And Rock City Music is the right place to do it.”

The event begins at 4 p.m. local time. Tickets are priced at $25 and include either a vinyl LP or a CD/DVD copy of Detroit Stories. Cooper will only sign copies of the new album, and will autograph up to two per person. No photos with Alice, including selfies, will be permitted.

Masks will be required for entry into the event. People who are experiencing a temperature above 100.4 degrees or have any other COVID-19 symptoms are asked to stay home.

Two days after the signing event, Cooper will return to the Detroit area for a concert in Clarkston, Michigan, part of Alice’s upcoming U.S. tour that kicks off September 17 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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Earlier today, plans were announced for a reissue of The Beatles‘ last album, 1970’s Let It Be, that will be released in multiple configurations on October 15.

Here’s a deeper look at the reissue’s Super Deluxe editions, which will be available as a five-CD/Blu-ray set, a four-LP/EP vinyl collection and in digital formats.

The expanded reissue boasts a new mix of the original album; previously unreleased recordings from the sessions, including alternate takes, rehearsals, jams, studio chatter and a performance from the band’s historic rooftop concert; and a recreation of the unreleased 14-track Get Back LP compiled in May 1969 by engineer Glyn Johns.

The CD and vinyl Super Deluxe reissue will come with a book featuring a foreword by Paul McCartney; commentary, notes and essays by respected Beatles historian Kevin Howlett and journalist John Harris; previously unpublished photos; and rare images of handwritten lyrics, session notes, sketches and more.

Let It Be was released in the U.K. on May 8, 1970 — a month after The Beatles announced their breakup — and 10 days later in the U.S.

The album spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 in June and July of 1970, and yielded the chart-topping hit “The Long and Winding Road.” It also featured alternate versions of two other songs that reached #1 prior to the album’s release — the title track and “Get Back.”

As previously reported, the new three-part documentary The Beatles: Get Back created by director Peter Jackson from unseen footage shot during the Let It Be sessions will premiere on Disney+ on November 25, 26 and 27.

A companion The Beatles: Get Back book will be published on October 12.

Here’s the track list for the CD version of the Let It Be Super Deluxe reissues:

CD 1: Let It Be (new stereo mix of original album)

“Two of Us”
“Dig a Pony”
“Across the Universe”
“I Me Mine”
“Dig It”
“Let It Be”
“Maggie Mae”
“I’ve Got a Feeling”
“One After 909”
“The Long and Winding Road”
“For You Blue”
“Get Back”

CD 2: Get Back — Apple Sessions

“Morning Camera” (Speech – Mono)/”Two of Us” (Take 4)
“Maggie Mae”/”Fancy My Chances with You” (Mono)
“Can You Dig It?”
“I Don’t Know Why I’m Moaning” (Speech – Mono)
“For You Blue” (Take 4)
“Let It Be”/”Please Please Me”/”Let It Be” (Take 10)
“I’ve Got a Feeling” (Take 10)
“Dig a Pony” (Take 14)
“Get Back” (Take 19)
“Like Making an Album?” (Speech)
“One After 909” (Take 3)
“Don’t Let Me Down” (First rooftop performance)
“The Long and Winding Road” (Take 19)
“Wake Up Little Susie”/”I Me Mine” (Take 11)

CD 3: Get Back — Rehearsals and Apple Jams

“On the Day Shift Now” (Speech – Mono)/”All Things Must Pass” (Rehearsals – Mono)
“Concentrate on the Sound” (Mono)
“Gimme Some Truth” (Rehearsal – Mono)
“I Me Mine” (Rehearsal – Mono)
“She Came In Through the Bathroom Window” (Rehearsal)
“Polythene Pam” (Rehearsal – Mono)
“Octopus’s Garden” (Rehearsal – Mono)
“Oh! Darling” (Jam)
“Get Back” (Take 8)
“The Walk” (Jam)
“Without a Song” (Jam) — Billy Preston with John and Ringo
“Something” (Rehearsal – Mono)
“Let It Be” (Take 28)

CD 4: Get Back LP — 1969 Glyn Johns Mix

“One After 909”
“I’m Ready” (aka “Rocker”)/Save the Last Dance for Me”/”Don’t Let Me Down”
“Don’t Let Me Down”
“Dig a Pony”
“I’ve Got a Feeling”
“Get Back”
“For You Blue”
“Teddy Boy”
“Two of Us”
“Maggie Mae”
“Dig It”
“Let It Be”
“The Long and Winding Road”
“Get Back (Reprise)”

CD 5: Let It Be EP

“Across the Universe” (unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix)
“I Me Mine” (unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix)
“Don’t Let Me Down” (new mix of original single version)
“Let It Be” (new mix of original single version)

Blu-ray: Let It Be Special Edition audio mixes
–Dolby Atmos
–96kHz/24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
–96kHz/24-bit High Res Stereo (2019 Stereo Mix)

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The release of the expansive archival compilation Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971) has been pushed back from October 29 to November 12.

As previously reported, the five-CD collection features previously unreleased live, studio and demo recordings from Joni Mitchell‘s early career leading up to Blue‘s release.

Archives Vol. 2 features home recordings from 1967 and 1968; tracks recorded during the making of Mitchell’s first four studio albums — 1968’s Song to a Seagull, 1969’s Clouds, 1970’s Ladies of the Canyon and ’71’s Blue — plus performances and an interview from Joni’s August 1969 appearance on The Dick Cavett Show.

There are also several full-length concerts. They include a March 1968 show at the Le Hibou Coffee House in Ottawa, Canada, that was recorded by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, a February 1969 performance at New York City’s historic Carnegie Hall, and an October 1970 concert at London’s Paris Theatre, during which Joni was joined by James Taylor for part of the show.

Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2 also is available as a limited-edition 10-LP vinyl set.

In addition, a standalone three-LP vinyl edition of Mitchell’s 1969 Carnegie Hall performance also will be released on November 12. A limited-edition white-vinyl version of Live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969 can be purchased exclusively at JoniMitchell.com. The three-LP set offers audio of the entire concert over five sides, while the sixth and final side features an etching of the American eagle design that appeared on the skirt Mitchell wore at the show.

Joni’s performance of “Chelsea Morning” that kicked off the concert has been released as a digital track in advance of the live album and the Archives Vol. 2 box set.

Here’s the Live at Carnegie Hall track list:

First Set
Side One
“Chelsea Morning”
A Valentine for Joni
“Cactus Tree”
“Night in the City”
“I Had a King”

Side Two
“Blue Boy”
My American Skirt
“The Fiddle and the Drum”
Spoony’s Wonderful Adventure
“That Song About the Midway”
“Both Sides Now”

Second Set
Side Three
“Marcie”
“Nathan La Franeer”
Intro to “The Gallery”
“The Gallery”
“Hunter”
“Morning Morgantown”

Side Four
Intro to “Get Together”
“Get Together”
Intro to “The Circle Game/Little Green”
“The Circle Game/Little Green”

Encore
Side Five
“Michael from Mountains”
Intro to “Urge for Going”
“Urge for Going”

Side Six
Etching of American eagle design from the skirt Mitchell wore at Carnegie Hall show

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