Classic Hits

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts‘ recently announced first-ever acoustic album, Changeup, got its release today.

The album is a 25-track collection featuring new, unplugged versions of songs spanning Joan Jett‘s entire career, from her work with the trailblazing 1970s all-female group The Runaways through to some of her most recent songs with her backing band, The Blackhearts.

Changeup is available now as a digital download, via streaming services and in the immersive audio formats Sony 360 RA and Dolby Atmos. A vinyl version will be released at a later date.

Among the tracks on Changeup are acoustic versions of Jett’s classic early hit “Bad Reputation,” “Androgynous,” her cover of Tommy James and the Shondells‘ “Crimson and Clover,” the Runaways classic “Cherry Bomb,” the Bruce Springsteen-penned “Light of Day,” and a wide variety of deeper cuts.

Prior to Changeup‘s release, Joan released her unplugged renditions of “Bad Reputation” and “(I’m Gonna) Run Away,” a song from Jett and the Blackhearts’ 1981 debut album, I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.

In other news, Joan will be one of the guest performers at acclaimed New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty‘s sixth annual Treme Threauxdown concert, scheduled for April 30 at the Saenger Theatre in the Big Easy. The event, which also will feature Gary Clark Jr., Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Tank and the Bangas, takes place during the first weekend of the 2022 New Orleans Jazz Fest.

Meanwhile, Jett and her band have a series of spring U.S. headlining dates scheduled leading up to the group’s stint on The Stadium Tour, the major U.S. summer trek that also features Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Poison. The tour kicks off June 16 in Atlanta. Visit JoanJett.com for her full itinerary.

Here’s the complete track list of Changeup:

“(I’m Gonna) Run Away”
“You’re Too Possessive”
“Long Time”
“Victim of Circumstance”
“Coney Island Whitefish”
“Love Is Pain”
“Oh Woe Is Me”
“You Drive Me Wild”
“Frustrated “
“Bad Reputation”
“Fake Friends”
“Fresh Start”
“Soulmates to Strangers”
“Make It Back”
“Fragile”
“I Love Playin’ with Fire”
“Cherry Bomb “
“I Want You”
“Crimson and Clover”
“A 100 Feet Away”
“Androgynous”
“You Don’t Know What You’ve Got”
“School Days”
“Good Music”
“Light of Day”

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Neil Young will release three new installments of his Official Bootleg Series of archival live albums on May 6, all solo acoustic performances dating back to the early 1970s.

The albums are Royce Hall 1971, which documents a show that took place on January 30 of that year on the UCLA campus; Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 1971, which captures a February 1 concert at the famed Los Angeles venue that brought Young’s 1971 tour to a close; and Citizen Kane Jr. Blues (Live at The Bottom Line 1974), featuring a surprise club gig that Neil played in New York City on May 16, 1974.

The albums will be released on CD and via digital formats on May 6, while vinyl LP versions will follow on June 3. Fans who pre-order CD or vinyl versions of the releases will also receive a high-res digital download of the records on May 6.

The Royce Hall 1971 and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 1971 albums were mixed from the original analog master tapes, while Citizen Kane Jr. Blues has been restored and remastered from the best available source recording.

One performance from each album has been made available as an advance digital track: “Journey Through the Past” from Royce Hall; “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” from Dorothy Chandler Pavilion; and “Revolution Blues,” from Citizen Kane Jr. Blues.

Young launched his Official Bootleg Series in October 2021 with Carnegie Hall 1970.

Here’s the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 1971 track list:

“On the Way Home”
“Tell Me Why”
“Old Man”
“Journey Through the Past”
“Cowgirl in the Sand”
“Heart of Gold”
“A Man Needs a Maid”
“Sugar Mountain”
“Don’t Let It Bring You Down”
“Love in Mind”
“The Needle and the Damage Done”
“Ohio”
“See the Sky About to Rain”
“I Am a Child”
“Dance Dance Dance”

Here’s the Royce Hall 1971 track list:

“On the Way Home”
“Tell Me Why”
“Old Man”
“Journey Through the Past”
“Cowgirl in the Sand”
“Heart of Gold”
“A Man Needs a Maid”
“See the Sky About to Rain”
“Sugar Mountain”
“Don’t Let It Bring You Down”
“Love in Mind”
“The Needle and the Damage Done”
“Ohio”
“Down by the River”
“Dance Dance Dance”
“I Am a Child”

And here’s the Citizen Kane Jr. Blues (Live at The Bottom Line) track list:

“Pushed It Over the End”
“Long May You Run”
“Greensleeves”
“Ambulance Blues”
“Helpless”
“Revolution Blues”
“On the Beach”
“Roll Another Number (For the Road)”
“Motion Pictures”
“Pardon My Heart”
“Dance Dance Dance”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Def Leppard has debuted a music video for “Kick,” the recently released first single from the band’s forthcoming 12th studio album, Diamond Star Halos, which is due out May 27.

The clip features the British rockers playing the catchy anthem inside a “Wall of Death” motorcycle carnival ride for an audience of flamboyantly dressed circus performers and other glammed-out misfits. You can watch the video now on Def Leppard’s official YouTube channel.

As previously reported, Diamond Star Halos is a 15-track collection that’s the band’s first album of new original tunes since 2015’s self-titled effort. You can pre-order it now as a deluxe package, a two-LP set and digitally, among other configurations.

Diamond Star Halos includes two duets with acclaimed country/bluegrass artist and longtime Def Leppard fan Alison Krauss — “This Guitar” and “Lifeless.” In addition, famed David Bowie pianist Mike Garson plays on two songs — “Goodbye for Good This Time” and “Angels (Can’t Help You Now).”

The album was recorded remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with frontman Joe Elliott laying down his vocals in Ireland, bassist Rick Savage recording his parts in the U.K., and guitarists Phil Collen and Viv Campbell and drummer Rick Allen recording their contributions in the U.S.

Diamond Star Halos will arrive in advance of Def Lepard’s 36-city Stadium Tour of North America with Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. The trek gets underway June 16 in Atlanta, and is mapped out through a September 9 concert in Las Vegas.

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Back in 1985, as the U.S. and the Soviet Union were in the grip of the Cold War, and the nuclear threat was looming, Sting recorded the song “Russians,” in which he sang, “What might save us, me and you/is if the Russians love their children too.”  Sadly, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the message is relevant once again, which is why he’s released a new charity version of the song.

Profits from “Russians (Guitar/Cello version)” will go to HelpUkraine.center, a volunteer storage center set up by Ukrainian business owners to receive humanitarian and medical aid from all over the world.  It accepts donations of goods, as well as money to purchase products such as medicine.

“I’ve only rarely sung this song in the many years since it was written, because I never thought it would be relevant again,” Sting says in a statement. “But, in the light of one man’s bloody and woefully misguided decision to invade a peaceful, unthreatening neighbor, the song is, once again, a plea for our common humanity.”

He adds, “For the brave Ukrainians fighting against this brutal tyranny and also the many Russians who are protesting this outrage despite the threat of arrest and imprisonment — We, all of us, love our children. Stop the war.”

As Sting sings in the song, “There’s no such thing as a winnable war/It’s a lie we don’t believe anymore.”

You can watch Sting and cellist Ramiro Belgardt perform the song on YouTube.

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A new archival Rolling Stones concert album, Live at the El Mocambo, featuring performances from two Toronto club shows that the British rock legends played on March 4 and 5, 1977, will be released on May 13.

The album, which will be available as a two-CD set, a four-LP collection on either black or neon vinyl, and digitally, features The Rolling Stones’ full March 5 concert plus three bonus performances from the previous night.

In advance of the album, two performances have been released today via digital formats — renditions of “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)” and “Rip This Joint.”

The concerts at the 300-capacity El Mocambo club were booked as secret shows, where attendees had won the tickets to see Canadian rock group April Wine. The Stones were billed as the support act for the two nights, under the moniker The Cockroaches. When fans got to the venue, it was April Wine that opened the show, followed by, well, you know who.

The Stones’ set list included such covers as Muddy Waters‘ “Mannish Boy,” Bo Diddley‘s “Crackin’ Up,” Big Maceo‘s “Worried Life Blues” and Willie Dixon‘s “Little Red Rooster,” as well as classic originals like “Honky Tonk Women,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Let’s Spend the Night Together” and “Tumbling Dice.” The band also presented live of “Worried About You,” which later would be released on 1981’s Tattoo You.

Only four songs from the El Mocambo concerts have been officially released previously, appearing on 1977’s Love You Live album alongside many tracks that were captured during The Stones’ 1975 and ’76 tours.

Live at the El Mocambo can be pre-ordered now.

As previously announced, The Stones launch their 60th anniversary tour June 22 in Madrid.

Here’s the full two-CD track list:

CD 1
“Honky Tonk Women”
“All Down the Line”
“Hand of Fate”
“Route 66”
“Fool to Cry”
“Crazy Mama”
“Mannish Boy”
“Crackin’ Up”
“Dance Little Sister”
“Around and Around”
“Tumbling Dice”

CD2
“Hot Stuff”
“Star Star”
“Let’s Spend the Night Together”
“Worried Life Blues”
“Little Red Rooster”
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”
“Rip This Joint”
“Brown Sugar”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Melody”
“Luxury”
“Worried About You”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Love reigned over Zak Starkey this week! People reports that on Monday, Ringo Starr‘s oldest son and The Who‘s touring drummer since the 1990s got married to his longtime partner and fellow musician, Sharna “Sshh” Liguz.

According to the the magazine, the nuptials took place in West Hollywood, California, at the Sunset Marquis, and featured an intimate gathering of family and friends.

Ringo was on hand to give his son away, while two other rock greats, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, served as Zak’s best men. Zak played in Marr’s group Johnny Marr & The Healers during the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Zak, 56, and Sharna, 37, have been a couple for almost 20 years, and picked Monday to get hitched because it was the first birthday of their daughter, Luna Lee Lightnin.

In a statement shared with People, Zak and Sharna wrote, “After 18 years together, Luna’s umbilical cord kinda tied the knot but we wanted to make it official and share with our friends and family in the U.S., before doing the same in Jamaica and the U.K.”

Starkey also posted a message on his Instagram page on Wednesday that reads, “Great to be solid with the greatest girl in the world. And to celebrate Luna’s no1 birthday. Thanks to everyone who came from near far wide abstract and online. Our dearest friends in da USA — great to see u at our wedding and experience true party stamina. Feels great to be wed to the woman I have loved for 18 years.”

Zak and Sharna record and perform together as the rock duo Sshh, and also co-founded the record label Trojan Jamaica.

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Today would have been Aretha Franklin‘s 80th birthday, so let’s show the late Queen of Soul some major respect.

Widely considered one of the all-time greatest vocalists, Franklin started singing gospel music as a child in the Detroit church where her father was minister. In 1960, at age 18, she signed to Columbia Records and experienced some R&B chart success. Her career really took off after signing to Atlantic Records in 1967.

For Atlantic, Franklin recorded the now-classics “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and many more.

Franklin was also part of the civil rights movement of the ’60s. She sang at events with Martin Luther King Jr., and “Respect” became a civil rights anthem. When King was assassinated in 1968, Franklin performed at his funeral.

Aretha’s hits continued through the ’70s. After leaving Atlantic Records, she signed to Clive Davis‘ label, Arista, in 1980. With Arista, she racked up hits like “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” and “Freeway of Love.” In 1987, she became the first female performer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Around this time, Aretha also recorded duets with various artists, including Eurythmics and George Michael. She and Michael scored a #1 hit with “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me.”

In 1994, Franklin was saluted at the Kennedy Center Honors and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Her other honors included the National Medal of the Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sadly, Aretha died of pancreatic cancer in August 2018. She was 76.

Last August, the well-received Aretha biopic Respect was released. It starred Jennifer Hudson, whom Franklin had chosen to portray her.

Also last year, Rolling Stone published its updated “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. At #1? Aretha’s “Respect.”

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Deep Purple‘s classic sixth studio album, Machine Head, was released 50 years ago today. The record features some of the British rockers’ most enduring tunes, including “Highway Star,” “Space Truckin'” and, of course, the band’s signature song, “Smoke on the Water.”

Driven by the popularity of “Smoke on the Water,” Machine Head became Deep Purple’s highest-charting and best-selling album in the U.S., peaking at #7 on the Billboard 200 and selling over two million copies.

“Smoke on the Water” reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the band’s best-charting U.S. single along with 1968’s “Hush.”

Deep Purple recorded Machine Head in late 1971 in Montreux, Switzerland, on Lake Geneva. While the band was there, the infamous incident occurred that inspired “Smoke on the Water.” Frank Zappa was playing a concert at the Montreux Casino, and during the show, someone in the audience fired a flare gun into the venue’s bamboo ceiling, causing a fire that burned down the building.

After the band had recorded a track featuring guitarist Ritchie Blackmore‘s famous riff, singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover came up with the lyrics telling the story of the fire.

In 2016, Guitar Player magazine ranked the “Smoke on the Water” riff as the second greatest guitar riff of all time. Blackmore tells ABC Audio that with songs by The Kinks and The Rolling Stones in mind, he intentionally wrote the riff simply figuring it would have wider appeal.

“[M]y whole idea was to pull myself back and think, ‘I want to play something the postman can whistle when he’s…delivering letters,'” he explains.

Ritchie adds, “I think [that’s] why a lot of guitarists go to music shops and play it, because it’s very simple to play.”

Here’s the full Machine Head track list:

“Highway Star”
“Maybe I’m a Leo”
“Pictures of Home”
“Never Before”
“Smoke on the Water”
“Lazy”
“Space Truckin'”

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Rick Astley‘s 1987 debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, and to mark the milestone, and remastered and expanded version of the hugely successful record will be released on May 6.

The expanded Whenever You Need Somebody, which will be available as a two-CD set and via digital formats, will feature a remastered version of the original album, as well as a variety of bonus tracks, including B-sides, remixes, instrumental versions and Astley’s own reimagined renditions of some of the tunes.

The physical package also includes a booklet featuring previously unseen archival photos, new liner notes, and recollections from Astley and two of the album’s main songwriters, Mike Stock and Pete Waterman.

Released in November 1987, Whenever You Need Somebody featured Rick’s two biggest hits — the chart-topping smashes “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever” — as well as the #10 single “It Would Take a Strong Strong Man.”  The album reached #10 on the Billboard 200 and #1 in the U.K., and has gone on two be RIAA-certified double Platinum for sales of over two million in the U.S.

“Whenever I sing these songs or even hear them on the radio, it brings back so many great memories,” says Astley. “It makes me appreciate how lucky I was to have met all the people I worked with around making that first record. ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ established me in America and let me travel the world — which, for a 21-year-old from Newton-le-Willows [U.K.], was mind-blowing.”

You can pre-order the Whenever You Need Somebody reissue now, and you can check out a restored 4K version of the “Together Forever” music video at Rick’s YouTube channel.

Here’s the track list for the two-CD reissue:

CD 1
“Never Gonna Give You Up” — 2022 Remaster
“Whenever You Need Somebody” — 2022 Remaster
“Together Forever” — 2022 Remaster
“It Would Take a Strong Strong Man” — 2022 Remaster
“The Love Has Gone” — 2022 Remaster
“Don’t Say Goodbye” — 2022 Remaster
“Slipping Away” — 2022 Remaster
“No More Looking for Love” — 2022 Remaster
“You Move Me” — 2022 Remaster
“When I Fall In Love” — 2022 Remaster
“My Arms Keep Missing You”
“I’ll Never Set You Free” — 7″ Mix
“Just Good Friends”
“Never Gonna Give You Up” (Pianoforte)
“Together Forever” (Reimagined)
“Whenever You Need Somebody” (Reimagined)
“When I Fall In Love” (Reimagined)

CD 2
“Never Gonna Give You Up” (Phil Harding 12″ Mix)
“Together Forever” (Lover’s Leap Remix)
“My Arms Keep Missing You” (The “Where’s The Harry” Remix)
“Whenever You Need Somebody” (XK 150 Mix)
“My Arms Keep Missing You” (Bruno’s Remix)
“Never Gonna Give You Up” (Cake Mix)
“Whenever You Need Somebody” (Lonely Hearts Mix)
“My Arms Keep Missing You” (No L Mix)
“Never Gonna Give You Up” (Escape From Newton Mix)
“Together Forever” (House Of Love Mix)
“Whenever You Need Somebody” (Rick Sets It Off Mix)
“Never Gonna Give You Up” (Instrumental)
“It Would Take a Strong Strong Man” (Instrumental)
“Whenever You Need Somebody” (Instrumental)

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The Eagles will bring their long run of dates on the U.S. leg of their Hotel California 2022 Tour to a close with a newly announced concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 28.

Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 1, at 10 a.m. PT via AXS.com. A variety of presales opportunites also will be available, starting next Thursday, March 31, at 10 a.m. PT. A limited number of VIP packages also will be sold. Visit Eagles.com for more details about the tour and tickets.

The Eagles kicked off the latest leg of their trek last month, and the band has 17 more shows on their U.S. itinerary, including the Las Vegas gig. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers launched their Hotel California Tour in 2019 with three sold-out concerts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

As previously announced, the Hotel California trek features the current Eagles lineup performing the band’s classic 1976 album of the same name in its entirety, as well as other classics, accompanied by an orchestra and a choir. Singer/guitarist Deacon Frey, who joined the Eagles’ touring lineup in 2017 after the 2016 death of his father, founding member Glenn Frey, has been sitting out the 2022 trek because of an undisclosed illness.

Meanwhile, the Eagles won’t be taking it easy after wrapping the U.S. tour leg. They also have five shows in Europe scheduled for June.

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