Classic Hits

Barrett Strong, known for writing some of Motown’s biggest hits, passed away in Detroit Sunday at the age of 81, the Detroit Free Press reports. 

Strong is best known for co-writing and singing the Motown classic “Money (That’s What I Want),” which would be the label’s first hit. It went on to sell a million copies and was covered by the likes of The Beatles and others.

As a songwriter, Strong and producer Norman Whitfiled co-wrote some of Motown’s most classic tunes, many with The Temptations, including “Cloud Nine,” Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me),” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” and others. He also co-wrote “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” for Gladys Knight and the Pips, “War” for Edwin Starr and more.

“Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner Norman Whitfield, created an incredible body of work, primarily with the Temptations,” Motown founder Berry Gordy shared in a statement. “Their hit songs were revolutionary in sound and captured the spirit of the times like ‘Cloud Nine’ and the still relevant ‘Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today).”

He adds, “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. Barrett is an original member of the Motown family and will be missed by all of us.”

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The New York rock band Tempt recently released a cover of the Queen classic “We Will Rock You,” and now they are using it to raise money for one of Brian May’s favorite charities. 

May gave his blessing to the cover, saying in a press release, “I’m very honored that Tempt play ‘We Will Rock You,’ and with so much passion! -Tempt I’m all ears!” Now that it’s officially out, Tempt has announced they’re donating profits from the single to May’s Save Me Trust charity, which is dedicated to protecting the welfare and dignity of wild animals.

“Thanks TEMPT for rockin’ for wild animals,” May wrote on Instagram. “And for playing a damn good rendition of our ancient tune !!!” 

“Although I am an American, I spend a good deal of time with family in the UK countryside and honoring Sir Brian by supporting a UK initiative that he is involved with that also feels local and important to us gives the project extra meaning,” Tempt frontman Harrison Marcello shares in the release. “We hope that Queen fans everywhere will join us and donate and that fans in other countries will reach out to donate to causes that support wildlife in their part of the world.”

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It’s only two weeks until The Rolling Stones drop their new live album, GRRR Live!, and they’re sharing yet another track from it. The band just dropped the live performance of “Doom and Gloom” to streaming services. 

“Doom and Gloom” was the lead single from the band’s 2012 album, GRRR!, a compilation celebrating their 50th anniversary. At the time it was the first song the band recorded together in almost seven years.

GRRR Live!, dropping February 10, is a recording of The Stones’ December 15, 2012, concert at Newark’s Prudential Center, which was part of their 50 & Counting tour, celebrating their 50th anniversary. It features guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Gary Clark Jr., Mick Taylor and The Black Keys. The album is now available for preorder.

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Elton John was forced to cancel his Farewell Yellow Brick Road show in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday after heavy rains caused flooding in the city. Elton’s concert at Mt Smart Stadium was called off only 15 minutes before the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was set to hit the stage, with many ticket holders already inside after braving the harsh conditions.

“I’m absolutely heartbroken that tonight’s show in Auckland couldn’t go ahead,” Elton shared on Instagram, noting he was at the venue ready to play. He explained, “Ultimately we had to follow the local emergency services’ decision to cancel.” He added, “My heart goes out to those of you who made it into the stadium only to have to leave again and I truly share your frustration and disappointment.”

With thousands of fans already at the venue, many were unhappy about the last-minute cancellation. After the promoter initially announced the news, fans were quick to voice their displeasure, with one writing, “Thanks for waiting till we were already there to cancel it … We understand cancelling it, just not at 7.15 for a 7.30 start.” 

“I’m furious,” concertgoer Casey Mitchell told Sky News. “It was raining heavily on the way to the stadium and I kept checking for announcements but nothing came, despite puddles being up to my ankles.”

So far there’s no word on whether the show will be rescheduled. Elton is scheduled to play the venue again on Saturday.

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Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott has joined forced with actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to help promote this weekend’s soccer game between Reynolds and McElhenney’s Wrexham AFC and Joe’s favorite team Sheffield United. 

In a 45-second promo, the trio banter about this Sunday’s match, dropping in references to several Def Leppard tracks, like “Foolin’,” “Hysteria” and “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak.” There’s also a mention of McElhenney’s Apple TV+ series Mythic Quest.

“We brought in a certified Blades fan here for our match preview, no fa-fa-‘Foolin’’ around here,” Ryan says in the clip, with Rob adding, “He’s gonna help us create some ‘Hysteria.’” Elliott then chimes in with, “I see what you did there, lads, next you’re gonna be saying that Wrexham will be” — he trails off as “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” plays.

Sharing the clip on social media, Reynolds writes, “Take it from noted sugar expert Joe Elliott of @DefLeppard – @wrexham_afc vs @SheffieldUnited is gonna be sweet.”

The match between Wrexham AFC and Sheffield United airs Sunday on ESPN+.

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U2 has dropped a new track from their upcoming album, Songs of Surrender. This time, they’re treating fans to their new take on The Joshua Tree classic “With or Without You.” 

U2 will release Songs of Surrender, containing “40 Songs. Reimagined and rerecorded,” on March 17. Curated and produced by the Edge, each song on the album is a completely new recording, with new arrangements and in some cases new lyrics.

“Most of our work was written and recorded when we were a bunch of very young men. Those songs mean something quite different to us now,” Edge shares about the project. “Some have grown with us. Some we have outgrown. But we have not lost sight of what propelled us to write those songs in the first place. The essence of those songs is still in us.” 

“With or Without You” was the lead single off U2’s iconic 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, and went on to become their first number one in the United States.

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Smokey Robinson is ready to release some new music. People reports the 82-year-old Motown legend will drop GASMS, his first studio album in more than nine years, on April 28.

The new collection features songs written and produced by Smokey; he’s already dropped the first single, “If We Don’t Have Each Other,” to streaming services. 

“I chose this song as the first single of my new album because it’s different musically and has a slide dance feeling to it … which is different from what I’ve ever done before,” he shares. “It also has a current rhythm of today that I love, and I hope everyone else does too.”

GASMS is the first Smokey album since 2014’s Smokey & Friends, featuring new versions of his classic tunes with the help of stars like Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Steven Tyler and James Taylor.

The new album comes as Smokey is getting ready to receive a pretty huge honor by the Recording Academy. He and Berry Gordy are set to be honored as the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year on February 3, where they will be celebrated by such artists as Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Sheryl Crow, Dionne Warwick and The Temptations.

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KISS is delving into their archives to treat their fans to another classic live performance. The rockers announced the fifth installment in their Off The Soundboard live bootleg series, which will focus on a classic concert from 1984.

KISS – Off The Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, New York, 1984 is set to drop April 7, featuring a November 28, 1984, concert recorded live at Mid-Hudson Arena during the band’s Animalize World Tour. 

The lineup for the Poughkeepsie show included Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Carr and Mark St. John, who performed an 18-song set that included songs like “Creatures Of The Night,” “I Love It Loud” and “Lick It Up,” along such classic tunes as “Detroit Rock City,” “Love Gun” and “Rock And Roll All Nite.” 

The bootleg will be available digitally, as well as on two-LP standard black vinyl, CD and a limited edition two-LP set on 180g custard yellow vinyl. The set is available for preorder now at the official KISS online store.

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Queen is out with the latest installment of their yearlong YouTube series Queen The Greatest Live, which, like episode one, focuses on the band’s rehearsals.

Queen The Greatest Live – Episode 2: “Rehearsals – Part 2” delves into the work that led to the band’s iconic 1985 set at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London. The episode cuts between rehearsal and live footage of such songs as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio Ga Ga” and more.

Queen’s 17-minute Live Aid set is considered by many to be one of the greatest live performances in history. Other songs performed during the historic concert include “Hammer to Fall,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions.” 

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When Duran Duran was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year, their original guitarist, Andy Taylor, wasn’t able to attend, revealing he was battling prostate cancer. But it sounds like his attendance was always a bit up in the air.

“To be honest, I wasn’t 100 percent certain that Andy was going to go anyway,” bassist John Taylor tells the Yorkshire Post. “It was very touch and go. He said he was going to go but we were like, ‘We’ll believe that when we see it.’” 

John explains, “Two weeks before it was due to happen I got back in touch with him by text and we had some really fun back and forths, and I was really excited to play with him again.” He continued, “It was literally two days before that we found out that he wasn’t going to be coming (to Los Angeles) and maybe a day or two before that I found out that he was sick.”

John says what Andy is going through is awful, adding, “We had an incredible time together, he’s a powerhouse, he’s dynamite.” 

In the end John says he was glad Andy decided to skip the Hall of Fame induction, offering, “When you have a diagnosis like that you’ve got to choose your battles. I think the most important thing for him right now is that he’s reasonably comfortable and he can enjoy what time is left to him.”

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