Classic Hits

In the new biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood portrays Madonna circa 1985 — and the film’s director predicts the Queen of Pop will enjoy it, because she knows how to laugh at herself.

“I hope that she loves it,” Eric Appel told People. “I feel like Madonna has a sense of humor…I think she’ll like it.”  Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Al, added, “I second that. I’m sure. It’s great — and [Evan is] playing her. Who could not love that?”

In real-life, Al famously spoofed Madonna’s hit “Like a Virgin” with his song “Like a Surgeon.”  In the biopic, which is actually more of a parody that fabricates and exaggerates moments from Al’s life, Madonna pursues the singer romantically in the hopes that he’ll spoof her song.

Wood says she prepared for the part by “just bingeing Madonna interviews from the early ’80s and her music videos and things,” adding, “It was fun. It’s always fun to get to go back and revisit and be like, ‘Oh, right — she’s a genius.’ There’s a reason why she’s Madonna.”

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story debuts on The Roku Channel November 4.  Meanwhile, Madonna is working on her own biopic, which will reportedly star Julia Garner as the superstar. No word on whether or not Weird Al will appear as a character in that film.

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Yes‘ classic fifth studio album, Close to the Edge, was released 50 years ago today, Tuesday.

A follow-up to the English prog-rock band’s popular 1971 album Fragile, Close to the Edge is Yes’ highest-charting entry on the Billboard 200, peaking at #3.

Close to the Edge features three long-form pieces, including the four-part, more than 18-minute title track, which took up the entire first side of the LP version.

An edited version of the second track, “And You and I,” was released as a single, reaching #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Making that album was a breakthrough for me completely … as a musician, as a sort of composer with [guitarist] Steve [Howe],” original Yes frontman Jon Anderson explains to ABC Audio, “’cause me and Steve, during the course of the Fragile tour … spent a lot of time sketching out the idea of ‘Close to the Edge.’ So when we got in the studio, everything was planned pretty well.”

Anderson also notes putting together “Close to the Edge” in the studio was an interesting process where the band members worked on multiple 3- to 5-minute segments as they built the epic song.

“At the end of it,” Jon recalls, “I couldn’t believe how extraordinary it was to edit it all together, and sit back after a month of creativity … and listen to it and go … ‘It’s so beautiful. It’s so good. Wow.'”

Close to the Edge was the last 1970s Yes studio album to feature founding drummer Bill Bruford, who left the band to join King Crimson. He was replaced by Alan White.

Close to the Edge is ranked #5 on Rolling Stone‘s 2015 list of the “50 Greatest Prog-Rock Albums of All Time.”

Here’s the track list:

“Close to the Edge”
–I. “The Solid Time of Change”
–II. “Total Mass Retain”
–III. “I Get Up, I Get Down”
-IV. “Seasons of Man”
“And You and I”
–I. “Cord of Life”
–II. “Eclipse”
–III. “The Preacher, the Teacher”
–IV. “The Apocalypse”
“Siberian Khatru”

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The track list and cover art have been unveiled for the upcoming John Entwistle compilation Rarities Oxhumed – Volume One, which will be released on CD on October 21.

The 13-track collection features previously unheard studio tracks, demos, remastered live performances and other unreleased gems, mostly from the late Who bassist’s solo career. The album includes a song called “Bogey Man,” which features a guest appearance by late Who drummer Keith Moon, and a demo version of “Where Ya Going Now,” which John had intended for The Who.

Rarities Oxhumed – Volume One also features several tracks that appeared on the final record Entwistle released with his solo group, 2000’s Music for Van-Pires, as well as The John Entwistle Band‘s live renditions of the 1978 Who tune “Trick of the Light” and the 1986 Roger Daltrey hit “Under a Raging Moon.”

An advance track from the collection, “I’ll Try Again Today” — a song that also was featured on Music for Van-Pires — will debut on September 16.

Rarities Oxhumed – Volume One can be preordered now at Merchbucket.com. In addition, special bundles are available that include an expanded 12-page booklet with photos, recording information and either a necklace or a keychain.

Entwistle died in June 2002 of a heart attack at age 57.

Here’s the compilation’s complete track list:

“Bogey Man”
“Darker Side of Night”
“I’ll Try Again Today”
“When You See the Light”
“Back on the Road”
“Left for Dead”
“I Wouldn’t Sleep with You”
“Don’t Be a Sucker”
“Life Goes On” (Demo)
“Where Ya Going Now” (Demo)
“Trick of the Light” (Live)
“Under a Raging Moon” (Live)
“Shakin’ All Over” (Live)

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Former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman and the band’s current keyboardist, Geoff Downes, are among the musicians who have contributed to multi-instrumentalist/producer Fernando Perdomo‘s soundtrack to the recent thriller film Frost.

The album, which features a score composed by Perdomo, will be released as a white-vinyl LP and digitally on September 23, while a CD version will be packaged with a Blu-ray featuring the film that’s due out on October 11.

Wakeman is featured on the album’s lead single, “The Crash,” which was released Friday via digital formats. He also appears on two additional tracks. Downes lends his talents to a pair of other tunes, while other guest musicians on the album include veteran U.K. singer/guitarist Terry Reid and electric violinist L. Shankar.

Among Perdomo’s previous projects are Energy Overload, a collaborative album with Vanilla Fudge/Cactus drummer Carmine Appice, and Ram On, a star-studded 50th anniversary tribute to Paul and Linda McCartney‘s Ram album. Both albums were released last year.

The Frost soundtrack tells the story of a father and daughter who have to fight for their lives when they are stranded on an icy mountain after a car accident.

Here’s the full track list of the Frost soundtrack:

“The Crash” — featuring Rick Wakeman
“Fading Heartbeat” — featuring Terry Reid
“Helicopter Rescue” — featuring L. Shankar
“First Sign of Impending Snowstorm” — featuring L. Shankar
“Orchid Dreaming — Big Electric Cat
“Photo Album” — featuring Terry Reid
“Hoodoo Man Blues — Junior Wells featuring Joe Louis Walker
“Desperation” — featuring Geoff Downes
“The Bonening — Front Line Assembly
“Not Alone” — featuring Rick Wakeman
“Snowy Landscape” — featuring Geoff Downes
“Dad Finally Answers the Walkie” — featuring L. Shankar
“Family Tragedy” — featuring Terry Reid
“Frosted Blonde” — featuring Rick Wakeman
“Intruder — Front Line Assembly*

* on CD and digital versions only.

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Vanilla Fudge has announced official details about the release of Vanilla Zeppelin, a newly remastered version of the group’s 2007 Led Zeppelin covers album, Out Through the In Door.

Vanilla Zeppelin will be released September 30 as a digital download and via streaming services and is available for preorder now.

The 12-track collection features renditions of various classic Led Zeppelin songs done in the style of Vanilla Fudge, with soaring keyboards and added soul and funk influences. The Vanilla Zeppelin album also boasts a brand-new cover design.

Three of the remastered songs from the album have already been released as advance digital tracks — “Rock and Roll,” “Ramble On” and “The Immigrant Song.” You can now watch the music video for “The Immigrant Song” on Golden Robot Records’ official YouTube channel.

In other news, Vanilla Fudge has confirmed a series of eight fall U.S. shows in the Northeast, which will run from a September 30 concert in Millville, New Jersey through a November 5 performance in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Among the shows is a previously announced October 1 appearance at the prog rock-themed Sea of Tranquility Festival in Poughkeepsie, New York.

More shows will be added to band’s schedule soon. Visit VanillaFudge.com to check out the full itinerary.

Here’s the full Vanilla Zeppelin track list:

“Rock and Roll”
“Immigrant Song”
“Ramble On”
“Dancing Days”
“Black Mountain Side”
“Your Time Is Gonna Come”
“Dazed and Confused”
“Trampled Under Foot”
“Moby Dick”
“All of My Love ”
“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You ”
“Fool in the Rain ”

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Newly unsealed documents reveal that the FBI tracked Aretha Franklin because she was involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

A 270-page document shows the FBI paid special attention to the Queen of Soul’s many performances for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference civil rights organization.

The shows for the SCLC took place in Atlanta and Memphis between 1967 and 1968 and were labeled as “communist infiltration” events.

The FBI also tracked a scheduled performance at a Black Panther Party event that Aretha eventually canceled.

“Bobby Seale, Chairman of the Black Panther Party, has directed the Los Angeles Black Panther Party to initiate plans for a major rally culminating in free food distribution to the poor black people in Los Angeles,” the document reads. “Source also advised that Gwen Goodloe wanted to contact Negro singing stars Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack to possibly assist in the event.”

The FBI also linked the 18-time Grammy winner to the Black Liberation Army after reportedly finding Franklin’s address in BLA’s organization documents.

The bureau called the BLA a “quasi-military group composed of small guerrilla units employing the tactics of urban guerrilla warfare against the established order with a view toward achieving revolutionary change in America.” Due to insufficient evidence, the FBI concluded that Franklin’s association with the BLA could not be determined.

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Ricky Martin is facing new sexual assault accusations after a complaint was filed in Puerto Rico on Friday.  

People reports that the accuser’s identity and details pertaining to these new allegations have not been released to the public.  

These claims comes days after Ricky launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit against his nephew, 21-year-old Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, who he claims tried to “assassinate” his reputation by accusing him of sexual abuse and stalking. Sanchez is the son of Ricky’s half-sister, Vanessa. 

Ricky was exonerated in July when a Puerto Rican court dismissed Sanchez’s request for a restraining order. Later, Sanchez withdrew his domestic abuse allegations and admitted under oath he was never assaulted by the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer.

The singer’s attorney, José Andréu-Fuentes, spoke to People about the new allegations and hinted Sanchez is behind this latest court battle, as well.

“These claims are wildly offensive and completely untethered from reality,” he said. “When this man previously made similar allegations, his legal case had to be withdrawn — not least because he himself admitted under oath that Ricky Martin had never assaulted him in any way.”

“Now, after being sued for trying to extort Mr. Martin, he is attempting to spread his lies again. It is beyond time that the media stops giving this deeply troubled individual the oxygen of publicity and allows him to get the help he so clearly needs,” Fuentes continued.

In Ricky’s suit against Sanchez, he called his nephew “maladjusted” and claimed Sanchez continues to threaten to “assassinate his reputation” unless “he is economically compensated.”

Ricky’s lawyers have said the singer and his family no longer feel safe in Puerto Rico because of Sanchez’s alleged threats.

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Late blues legend John Lee Hooker‘s acclaimed 1989 studio album, The Healer, which featured guest appearances by Santana, George Thorogood, Bonnie Raitt and others, will be reissued October 28 on CD and vinyl after years of being out of print.

The Healer became Hooker’s highest-charting album ever on the Billboard 200, peaking at #62. The record kicks off with the title track, which was co-written by Carlos Santana, and features musical contributions from the guitar legend and his band.

Thorogood appears on a version of “Sally Mae,” a song that was originally released as the B-side of Hooker’s 1948 debut single, the R&B chart-topping “Boogie Chillen’.”

Raitt is featured on an updated rendition of “I’m in the Mood,” a song that reached #30 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1951. The Hooker-Raitt duet wound up winning a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Blues Performance category.

Other artists featured on The Healer include Robert Cray, Canned Heat, Los Lobos and acclaimed blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite.

The Healer is available for preorder now, while special merchandise can be purchased exclusively at JohnLeeHooker.com.

Hooker was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. He died in 2001; while his actual age was disputed, he was believed to be 88.

Here’s the full track list of The Healer:

“The Healer” — with Carlos Santana & The Santana Band
“I’m in the Mood” — with Bonnie Raitt
“Baby Lee” — with Robert Cray
“Cuttin’ Out” — with Canned Heat
“Think Twice Before You Go” — with Los Lobos
“Sally Mae” — with George Thorogood
“That’s Alright” — with Charlie Musselwhite
“Rockin’ Chair”
“My Dream”
“No Substitute”

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The new version of Dolly Parton‘s number-one hit “9 to 5,” reimagined by Kelly Clarkson and Dolly herself, is finally here.

While the original 1980 version of the song was peppy and upbeat, the new version has more of a melancholy feel, with slight changes in the melody reflecting the frustration of trying to get ahead in one’s career and being held back by your boss.

“It’s a rich man’s game, no matter what they call it/ And you spend your life putting money in his wallet,” sings Kelly.

The new duet version of the song appears in the new documentary, Still Working 9 to 5, which is set to premiere September 16. It’s about the 1980 feminist comedy 9 to 5, in which Dolly starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. The doc examines the landmark film and the impact it had on the women’s movement at that time, as well as how its message still resonates as women continue to fight for equality in the workplace.

“I am so honored that Dolly asked me to reimagine this iconic song, ‘9 to 5,’ with her!” Kelly says in a statement. “She is so talented, an inspiration to all women, and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet! I hope y’all like what we did, but even if you don’t, remember I got to sing a duet with the magical Dolly Parton and now have bragging rights til the end of time!”

Dolly adds, “Nobody sings like Kelly Clarkson. She makes any song come alive. I love her voice on ‘9 to 5’ and I am so proud I got to sing with her on it.”

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Sammy Hagar & The Circle have released a third advance track from their forthcoming studio album Crazy Times, an expanded and updated version of “Funky Feng Shui,” which first appeared on their 2021 record, Lockdown 2020.

To accompany the song, which is available now via digital formats, Hagar and his band have debuted its music video on the Red Rocker’s official YouTube channel.

The cartoonish clip features Sammy and his bandmates — bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson — playing the song on a Hollywood street while a giant woman in a tight-fitting red dress looms over them.

Regarding the making of the video, Hagar says, “[It] was a blast because the Director kept screaming ‘Just remember there’s gonna be a 50 foot woman stepping over you guys while you’re performing’ – ha ha! I love this song and this video is more fun than a frog in a glass of milk.”

“Funky Feng Shui” began as a jam that Hagar and The Circle would play backstage to warm up before shows. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Sammy and the band remotely recorded an abbreviated version of the tune that wound up on their Lockdown 2020 collection. Hagar completed the song while working on Crazy Times, and he and The Circle then recorded the extended version for the new album.

As previously reported, Crazy Times, which can be preordered now, will be released on CD and via digital formats on September 30, while standard black-vinyl and limited-edition red-vinyl LP versions will follow on October 28.

Prior to “Funky Feng Shui,” Hagar and the band released two other advance tunes from the album — the title track and a cover of Elvis Costello‘s “Pump It Up” — along with companion videos.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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