Classic Hits

The reissue of Pink Floyd‘s classic 1977 concept album Animals, featuring a 5.1 Surround Sound mix created in 2018, gets released in multiple formats this Friday, September 16.

Along with the updated mix, the reissue boasts a reimagined and updated version of Animals‘ memorable cover art, which featured a photo of London’s massive Battersea Power Station with a giant inflatable pig tied to its chimneys.

Both covers were created by Aubrey “Po” Powell, co-founder of Hipgnosis, the graphic-design firm that has worked on most of the band’s albums.

The new cover features an ominous-looking recent photo of the building, which is covered in scaffolding, taken at night from a different angle than the original pic, with the pig added digitally.

Powell tells ABC Audio that he had to act fast to get a good current photo of the building because the site is in the middle of a “massive regeneration project” that’s obscuring the view of the station.

Powell says the new photo reflects Animals‘ cynical look at humanity, which was partly inspired by George Orwell‘s dystopian novel Animal Farm.

“I think the reflection of the image is very much related to the album, this Orwellian, dark, bleak, futuristic image,” he notes. “It’s almost sci-fi … Roger [Waters is] over the moon about it, and I think one of the reasons is because [it echoes] the period of time that we live in.”

Powell adds that Pink Floyd’s other members also think the new cover was great.

In addition, Powell says the cover reflects the edgier, more in-your-face new Animals mix, which, he maintains, “sounds so different and so good.”

The Animals reissue will be available Friday on CD, vinyl LP, Blu-ray and SACD. A deluxe multiple-disc package will follow on October 7.

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John Mellencamp will release an expanded and remastered version of his classic 1985 album Scarecrow on November 4.

The box set will feature two CDs featuring a remixed and remastered version of the original album, as well as demos, outtakes and rough mixes of tracks. The package will also include a booklet featuring rare photos and new liner notes penned by music journalist and author Anthony DeCurtis.

Mellencamp has made available the new mix of his hit “Small Town,” as well as a “Writer’s Demo” version and an acoustic version of the song, as advance digital tracks.

Scarecrow was Mellencamp’s eighth studio album; it was released in August 1985 and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. The album features five top-40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 — “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to ’60s Rock),” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” “Rain on the Scarecrow” and “Rumbleseat,” which reached #2, #6, #6, #21 and #28, respectively. Scarecrow has gone on to sell over 5 million copies in the U.S.

You can preorder the reissue now.

Meanwhile, Mellencamp recently reported that’s he finished recording what will be his 26th album. He shared the lyrics to a new song titled “The Eyes of Portland,” which focuses on the homelessness he witnessed in the Oregon city.

Here’s the track list of the deluxe Scarecrow reissue:

CD 1
“Rain on the Scarecrow”
“Grandma’s Theme”
“Small Town”
“Minutes to Memories”
“Lonely Ol’ Night”
“The Face of the Nation”
“Justice and Independence ’85”
“Between a Laugh and a Tear”
“Rumbleseat”
“You’ve Got to Stand for Somethin'”
“R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60’s Rock)”
“The Kind of Fella I Am”
“Small Town” (Acoustic Version)

CD 2
“Under the Boardwalk”
“Lonely Ol’ Night” (Rough Mix)
“Between a Laugh and a Tear” (Writer’s Demo)
“Carolina Shag”
“Cold Sweat”
“Rumbleseat” (Writer’s Demo)
“Smart Guys”
“R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60’s Rock)” (Rough Mix)
“Minutes to Memories” (Rough Mix)
“Shama Lama Ding Dong”
“Small Town” (Writer’s Demo)

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Daryl Hall & John Oates‘ 2003 studio album Do It for Love will be released on vinyl for the first time on September 30 — and will also be reissued on CD.

The Do It for Love reissue, which can be preordered now, will be available as a two-LP set and on CD in a gatefold digipak.

The 14-track collection is Hall & Oates’ 16th studio effort, which features three singles that reached the top 20 on Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary chart; the title track, “Man on a Mission” and “Getaway Car,” reached #1, #7 and #16, respectively.

The album also includes a cover of the 1999 New Radicals song “Someday We’ll Know” featuring a guest appearance by Todd Rundgren. Rundgeen, who has a long history with Hall & Oates, served as producer of the duo’s 1974 album, War Babies, and toured with Daryl earlier this year.

Do It for Love was partly recorded in London and includes contributions from songwriters and producers who’d worked with a variety of contemporary pop artists.

Reflecting on the making of the album, Oates says, “It was interesting for me to record for the first time in London. Working with a new team of producers during a time when pop music was in transition from the mega success of the ‘Boy Band’ craze while at the same time trying to preserve the integrity and sound that Daryl and I had created over the years.”

You can check out new lyric videos for “Do It for Love” and “Man on a Mission” at Hall & Oates’ official YouTube channel.

Here’s the two-LP version of the album’s full track list:

Side A
“Man on a Mission”
“Do It for Love”
“Someday We’ll Know” — featuring Todd Rundgren

Side B
“Forever for You”
“Life’s Too Short”
“Getaway Car
“Make You Stay”

Side C
“Miss DJ”
“(She) Got Me Bad”
“Breath of Your Life”
“Intuition”

Side D
“Heartbreak Time”
“Something About You
“Love in a Dangerous Time”

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Julian Lennon released Jude, his first new studio album in 11 years, this past Friday. Now, the singer/songwriter is taking part in a special streaming event to promote the record, which is set to kick off September 14 at 3 p.m. ET on the LOOPED platform.

During the interactive event titled “Jude: Behind the Album,” Julian — who is John Lennon‘s older son — will be interviewed and will share stories and details about each track on the record.

Fans can view and participate in the Q&A by visiting LoopedLive.com. Tickets for the event are free, but only a limited number are available. The session will also feature giveaways and opportunities to purchase limited-edition merchandise.

Jude is an 11-track collection that Julian says includes songs that “have been in the works for several years, so it almost feels like a coming-of-age album.”

The record’s title is a nod to the famous Beatles song “Hey Jude,” which Paul McCartney wrote to try to comfort five-year-old Julian following his parents’ separation.

Julian co-produced Jude with his longtime guitarist Justin Clayton. The album includes the track “Gaia,” which features guest vocals by Paul Buchanan of The Blue Nile and French singer Elissa Lauper.

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During a new Billboard interview, Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner let slip that a new Bruce Springsteen album apparently will be released soon.

Wenner, whose new memoir Like a Rolling Stone was published Tuesday, was asked by Billboard how he felt about pop and hip-hop becoming the dominant music genres, and he admitted that he still prefers rock ‘n’ roll.

“Give me the [Rolling] Stones,” the publisher declared. “There’s a new Bruce [Springsteen] record coming out this fall, which is stunning. I’m listening to that.”

Back in May 2021, Springsteen revealed while accepting the Woody Guthrie Prize that he had a new, California-inspired album “coming out soon,”but little word about the project has been heard about since.

Meanwhile, Springsteen interviewed Wenner about his book on Tuesday night at an event in New York City that was streamed live online.

According to the Asbury Park Press, during the Q&A, the Boss jokingly griped about how Rolling Stone didn’t put him on the cover after the success of his 1975 album, Born to Run.

“I’m not picking a bone here or anything. But … I always felt they were a little skittish about putting me on the cover when that record came out,” Springsteen commented. “I was on the cover of Time and Newsweek!”

Wenner responded by noting, “He was the establishment pick at that time. I mean, nobody ever got on the cover of those two magazines at once. There was a huge controversy in New York media between Time and Newsweek.”

Wenner also reflected on some of the famous rock artists who were easy to interview, mentioning Springsteen, The Who‘s Pete Townshend and U2‘s Bono.

“All you have to do is ask one question,” Jann said.

“We can’t shut up,” Springsteen added.

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James Taylor knows how sweet it is to perform at America’s most famous house — the White House — because that’s what he did on Tuesday to celebrate the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Grammy winner suited up for the event, even trading in his signature cap for a classy fedora. He cracked before jumping in to a performance of one of his biggest hits, “Fire & Rain,” that he’s “not used to needing sunblock to go on stage.” His wife, Kim Taylor, then joined him to assist with “You Can Close Your Eyes” and “America the Beautiful.”

Taylor supports the latest piece of legislation from the White House, calling it “important” and a “hopeful moment” for the nation. 

“This is a time where the world needs to cooperate more than ever before, more than anything since the second world war. The world needs to get together and respond to the climate crisis,” Taylor said. He advocated and encouraged people to see the bill “as an opportunity to come together to protect our home.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is an outspoken advocate for climate change, and this initiative contains some green energy incentives. He has also served on the Natural Resources Defense Council for over three decades.

It should be noted former President Barack Obama awarded Taylor the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2015.

Video of the celebration is now available to watch on YouTube.

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Earlier this month, David Lee Roth debuted a new solo version of Van Halen‘s classic 1984 hit “Panama” recorded live in the studio and now he’s premiered an updated rendition of another well-known tune by his old band from the same session.

You can check out Roth’s live in-studio version of “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love,” a song that appeared on Van Halen’s self-titled 1978 debut album, at Diamond Dave’s official YouTube channel.

Accompanying the clip is an archival photo of shirtless Roth chained to a fence.

Like his new version of “Panama,” Roth recorded  “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love” in May of this year at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles with the current members of his solo backing band — guitarist Al Estrada, bassist Ryan Wheeler and drummer Francis Valentino.

According to the reliable Van Halen News Desk fan site, Roth recorded 14 songs on May 3 during a two-hour session at the studio.

In other Van Halen-related news, a ceremony marking the opening of a new performance stage named after the band in Eddie and Alex Van Halen‘s hometown of Pasadena, California, which was supposed to take place this past Saturday, September 10, was postponed to this Saturday, September 17, because of bad weather, Pasadena Now reports.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. PT on Saturday that will celebrate the opening of the stage and the park where its located, Playhouse Village Park. A two-hour community celebration will follow.

The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena from the Netherlands in 1962, and the siblings formed their famous namesake band in the city in 1972. Eddie died in October 2020 from complications of cancer at age 65.

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A new edition of the touring celebration of The Band‘s historic, all-star 1976 farewell concert, “The Last Waltz,” will take place this November.

The Last Waltz Tour 2022, which features a star-studded lineup headed by ex-Allman Brothers Band member Warren Haynes and acclaimed producer/bassist Don Was, will kick off with a November 3-4 stand in Port Chester, New York, and is plotted out through a November 20 show in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tickets for the trek, which features a total of 13 confirmed dates, go on sale Friday, September 16, at 10 a.m. ET.

Other musicians taking part in the tour include The Neville Brothers‘ Cyril Neville, country artist Jamey Johnson, The Radiators‘ Dave Malone, longtime Muddy Waters guitarist Bob Margolin, Dirty Dozen Brass Band drummer Terence Higgins and avant-jazz keyboardist John Medeski. The shows also feature a horn section that will be playing original arrangements created for The Band by late New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint. The trek is sanctioned by founding Band guitarist Robbie Robertson.

“We are counting down the days till we get to see this lineup, performing these songs, in the greatest music celebration of our lives,” says The Last Waltz Tour creator and producer Keith Wortman. “Seeing the audiences sing along to every word at every show as one family is what all of us music fans live for.”

The original Last Waltz concert was held November 25, 1976, at San Francisco’s Winterland venue. Documented for a movie directed by Martin Scorsese, it featured The Band performing with guest artists including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Ronnie Wood, Ringo Starr and Dr. John.

Check out the tour dates at BlackbirdPresents.com.

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Mark David Chapman, the man who shot music legend John Lennon to death in December 1980, has been denied parole for the 12th time, according to the New York State Department of Corrections
and Community Supervision.

Chapman, 67, was turned down by the Board of Parole following an interview August 31. He will now have to wait 18 months, until February 2024, before his request for parole will be reviewed again.

Chapman is currently incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York. He was transferred to the prison earlier this year after spending many years at the Wende Correctional Facility outside of Buffalo, New York.

Chapman received a sentence of 20 years to life in August 1981, after he pleaded guilty to shooting the former Beatles star outside of Lennon’s apartment in Manhattan on December 8, 1980. 

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Paul McCartney is speaking out in support of a campaign by PETA’s Indian branch to have an allegedly abused elephant sent to a rescue center.

PETA India claims that a captive female elephant known alternately as Jeymalyatha and Joymala has been beaten by its keepers in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They’ve shared viral videos from June 2002 and February that allegedly show the animal being abused.

McCartney has written a letter to India’s Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, asking him to immediately relocate Jeymalyatha to a suitable animal sanctuary.

“I have considered India a spiritual place ever since I travelled there in the 1960s. I was impressed by India’s cultural love for animals,” writes Sir Paul, a longtime vegetarian and PETA supporter. “I know India reveres elephants, its national heritage animal; but cruelty to animals happens everywhere, even in India.”

He continues, “What reflects on a country’s values is how that cruelty is addressed. That’s why I am confident that action will be taken to send sorely abused elephant Jeymalyatha (Joymala) to a suitable rescue centre where she can receive the specialized care she needs for her psychological wounds, and can live unchained and in the company of others of her kind.”

McCartney adds, “I trust you agree that Jeymalyatha has suffered more than enough and that she deserves to spend the rest of her time on this Earth away from her abusive trainers, rehabilitating, and with others of her kind.”

A variety of Indian celebrities are also supporting the PETA campaign, with many posting tweets using the hashtag #FreeElephantJeymalyatha.

Visit PETAIndia.com for more details about the story.

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