Classic Hits

Hall & Oates singer Daryl Hall will release his first-ever solo best-of compilation, titled BeforeAfter, on April 1, and to promote the album, Daryl will be teaming up with fellow Philadelphia-area native Todd Rundgren for a series of eight joint U.S. concerts that month.

BeforeAfter is a 30-track collection that features selections from all five of Hall’s solo studio albums, as well as eight performances from his acclaimed TV/web series Live from Daryl’s House, six of which are previously unreleased.

Hall’s work outside of Hall & Oates includes his 1980 solo debut, Sacred Songs, produced by King Crimson‘s Robert Fripp, and 1986’s Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine, which was co-produced by Eurythmics‘ Dave Stewart and included several tunes co-written by Stewart.

“I picked this collection of songs from my solo albums because I feel they encapsulate certain periods of my career,” says Hall. “It also shows the diversity of working with collaborators like Robert Fripp or Dave Stewart. And, having some tracks from [Live from Daryl’s House] on it…really makes the compilation complete.”

BeforeAfter kicks off with “Dreamtime,” which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. The Live from Daryl’s House performances include a rendition of Eurythmics’ “Here Comes the Rain Again” with Stewart, a version of Rundgren’s “Can We Still Be Friends” with Todd, and covers of hits by Ruby and the Romantics and Gladys Knight and the Pips.

As for Hall’s tour with Rundgren, it runs from an April 1 concert in Chicago through an April 16 show in National Harbor, Maryland, and includes stops at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and New York City’s Carnegie Hall on April 5 and April 14, respectively.

BeforeAfter can be pre-ordered now. Here’s the full track list:

Disc One:
“Dreamtime”
“Babs and Babs”
“Foolish Pride”
“Can’t Stop Dreaming”
“Here Comes the Rain Again” (Live from Daryl’s House) — with Dave Stewart
“Someone Like You”
“Talking to You (Is Like Talking to Myself)”
“Sacred Songs”
“Right as Rain”
“Survive”
“North Star” (Live from Daryl’s House) — with Monte Montgomery
“In My Own Dream” (Live from Daryl’s House)
“NYCNY”
“What’s Gonna Happen to Us”

Disc Two:
“Love Revelation”
“Fools Rush In”
“I’m in a Philly Mood”
“Send Me”
“Justify”
“Borderline”
“Stop Loving Me, Stop Loving You”
“Eyes for You (Ain’t No Doubt About It)”
“The Farther Away I Am”
“Why Was It So Easy”
“Can We Still Be Friends” (Live from Daryl’s House) — with Todd Rundgren
“Cab Driver”
“Our Day Will Come” (Live from Daryl’s House)
“Laughing Down Crying” (Live from Daryl’s House)
“Problem with You” (Live from Daryl’s House)
“Neither One of Us (Wants To Be the First to Say Goodbye)” (Live from Daryl’s House)

And here are Daryl’s tour dates with Todd:

4/1 — Chicago, IL, Auditorium Theatre
4/3 -– Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium
4/5 -– Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Symphony Hall
4/7 -– Northfield, OH, MGM Northfield Park
4/9 -– Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia
4/11 -– Boston, MA, Orpheum Theatre
4/14 -– New York, NY, Carnegie Hall
4/16 -– National Harbor, MD, The Theatre at MGM National Harbor

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Last year, Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson told ABC Audio that both she and her sister and band mate Ann were interested in touring together again, possibly in 2022, but Nancy now says a conflict with her sibling has put those plans on hold.

On Friday, Nancy took part in a livestream chat at the social-networking site TalkShop.Live, during which fans could buy signed copies of her 2021 solo album, You and Me.

During the interview, Nancy revealed that discussions about a new Heart tour between her and Ann’s camp broke down over a disagreement regarding the musicians that would back her and Ann.

“[T]hey were trying to bring their new lineup of players that Ann wanted to put on stage as Heart with me and I wasn’t really willing to do that,” Nancy explained, referring to Ann’s current solo group, which is called The Amazing Dawgs.

“I don’t know those guys, you know, and I didn’t want to feel like a sideman,” Nancy continued. “So, [the tour]…kind of went away. They didn’t really respond to any of our responses in response to…what they [wanted]…They wanted this and I didn’t want that and nobody responded to anything, so…”

She added, “[M]y thing was that everybody that’s played on the last big Heart tour [in 2019] would be back, you know, in the same band,” then noted, “I think Ann might be a little bored with Heart. I don’t know.”

It’s worth pointing out that most of Heart’s backing band for their 2019 tour are part of Nancy’s current solo group.

Also during the interview, Nancy revealed that she also has plans for a solo acoustic album and a Christmas album.

You can buy signed CD and blue-vinyl copies of You and Me at TalkShop.Live.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Coinciding with today’s release of John Mellencamp‘s latest studio album, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, the famed singer-songwriter has released a new single from the record called “Did You Say Such a Thing.”

The gritty-sounding blues-rock tune, which is available now via digital formats, features backing vocals from Bruce Springsteen, and is one of three collaborations with the Boss featured on the album.

You can check out a visualizer video for “Did You Say Such a Thing” on Mellencamp’s official YouTube channel.

Mellencamp wrote and self-produced Strictly a One-Eyed Jack at his Belmont Mall Studios in Bloomington, Indiana. He’d previously released one of the other Springsteen collaborations, “Wasted Days,” as an advance single back in September of last year.

Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is currently available everywhere.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, a reboot of the original show, premiered today on Apple TV+, and coinciding with its debut, a soundtrack has been released via digital formats.

One of the songs on the album, “Shine on Us Now,” features soaring vocals from Patti LaBelle, who also appears as a special guest on the new series.

In addition, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers the Foo Fighters, who also had previously been announced as making a “special appearance” in the series, have recorded a song called “Fraggle Rock Rock” for the soundtrack. Other guest stars appearing on Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock include Saturday Night Live‘s Kenan Thompson and The Office‘s Ed Helms.

All the songs from the soundtrack are featured in the new 13-episode series.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Barry Manilow enjoyed a little surprise when enjoying dinner with songwriting partner Bruce Sussman at a New York City restaurant Thursday night.  According to Page Six, once the patrons figured out the legendary singer was in the house, they burst into a performance of his signature song, “Copacabana.”

A witness to the impromptu celebration at Fresco by Scotto told Page Six, “It was insane.  Almost everyone dropped their pasta and meatballs to form a conga line that snaked around the restaurant before arriving at the foot of Bruce and Barry’s table.”

Barry was delighted by the sight and, the insider dished, “[He] was giggling and screaming to Bruce, ‘I can’t believe they all know all the lyrics!'”

The 78-year-old hitmaker was so moved by the display that he told the co-owner, “We have to come back.”  A spy adds the two tipped 100 percent of their bill, paying the good vibes forward to their server.

As for why Barry is is hanging around NYC, it’s because he and Sussman are working on their new musical, Harmony, which will go into previews in March.  The story is about the singing group Comedian Harmonists, a band of six German men of Jewish descent who became musical sensations in the 1920s, before facing danger due to the rise of the Nazi party.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Queen guitarist Brian May will make his acting debut in an upcoming episode of Andy and the Band, a popular U.K. TV show geared toward children.

The show stars Andy Day as the leader of a rock band called The Odd Socks that’s made up of a group of his offbeat friends. May will appear as the Godfather of Rock in an episode titled “Planet Rock” that will premiere on January 24 on the BBC iPlayer and January 27 on the CBBC channel.

On the program, May’s character will join Andy and the Odd Socks to play the “best jam ever” and also will help the group overcome what’s described as a “a global ‘rocktastrophe.'”

The plot of the episode involves The Odd Socks visiting Planet Rock to seek the Godfather’s help in reuniting them with the group’s guitarist, Rio, who has lost his confidence, and his beloved air guitar.

In conjunction with the show, May has recorded a new song with Andy and the Odd Socks called “Planet Rock” that will be released on February 18.

“I have loved working with the Odd Socks! Playing the role of their Godfather of Rock was actually a very emotional experience,” May says. “The episode is a wonderful message of hope to kids who lose their self-confidence. The symbolic use of air guitar is beautifully apt. And on a broader scale I absolutely align with Andy and the Band in their quest for every kid to feel proud of their individual qualities.”

He adds, “I’m backing their anti-bullying campaign to the hilt!”

Meanwhile, Day notes, “Working with Brian has been a musical dream come true, as I am a huge Queen fan, but most importantly he completely understood the ethos and message of inclusivity we share in everything we do.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Cheap Trick and the late Michael Jackson‘s daughter, Paris Jackson, are among the artists scheduled to perform at the 2022 Boston Calling Music Festival, which will be held May 27-29 at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Boston.

The power-pop legends and Jackson both are part of the lineup of the event’s first day, which will be headlined by Foo Fighters. The headliners for the second and third days of the festival, respectively, will be The Strokes and Metallica.

Also on the bill of the three-day event are Avril Lavigne, Weezer, HAIM, Glass Animals, Modest Mouse, Run the Jewels, The Struts and many more.

Tickets are on sale now, with packages ranging from $370 to $2,000.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The music world is mourning the death of Bat Out of Hell singer Meat Loaf, who passed away Thursday at the age of 74. A cause of death is unknown at this time. The singer and actor, born Marvin Lee Aday, sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, appeared in more than 65 movies, and won a Grammy in 1994 for “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).”

Among the many stars saluting Meat Loaf on social media were Queen guitarist Brian May, Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive fame, Meat’s former duet partner Cher, and current Queen singer Adam Lambert, who played Eddie — the character Meat Loaf portrayed in The Rocky Horror Picture Show — in the 2016 TV revival of the musical film.

Other tributes came from Meat’s former duet partner Boy George, Rick Astley, and Bonnie Tyler who, like Meat Loaf, also recorded hit songs by the late Jim Steinman.

Here’s what the music world is saying about the larger-than-life singer with the powerhouse voice:

Brian May: “Completely gutted that Meat Loaf has left us. Always full of madness, with the innocent sense of naughtiness of a 5-year old, Meat was forever young. I called him Mr Loaf, and he called me when he wanted some wacky guitar playing. We had so much fun so many times, and, just three months younger than me, he felt like a brother. Dear Meat, the world is mourning and will miss your fine and powerful presence for a very long time. RIP.”

Randy Bachman: “What a legend, what a career, what a legacy. Rest In Peace, Meatloaf. Thank you for the lifetime of music that will stay with us forever.”

Cher: “Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did “Dead Ringer”. Am Very Sorry For His Family, Friends, & Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day⁉️”

Adam Lambert: “A gentle hearted powerhouse rockstar forever and ever. You were so kind. Your music will always be iconic. I’m sure you’re singing concerts in the great beyond. Rest In Peace sir.”

Boy George: “R.I.P Meatloaf. Love and prayers to all his family and close friends. He once turned me upside down in a Chinese Restaurant in St Johns Wood.”

Rick Astley: “Meat Loaf. What a legend. Rest in peace.”

Bonnie Tyler: “I am shocked & saddened by the sudden death of Meat Loaf. He was, as you might imagine, a larger than life character with a voice & stage presence to match & is one of those rare people who truly was a one off talent and personality. Rest In Peace.”

Rob Thomas: “I was sitting in a hotel lobby one evening with friends when a nice woman came over and said ‘Loaf would like you to come up to his room’ I was taken aback but you gotta go where the loaf tells you to go. I went up to his room and he was sitting on his bed listening to a cassette of my local band, pre Matchbox, Tabitha’s Secret. It turned out he had been listening to that since the late 90s and was a big fan and just wanted to connect. It was a surreal and wonderful moment with a legend and I’m thankful for it. #rip Marvin and Long Live Loaf.”

Slash: “RIP #Meatloaf.”

Ted Nugent: “Rest in peace my soulbrother soulmusic bloodbrother! A great man great American rocksolid in the asset column of the American dream! The wonderful Meatloaf force of nature will be with us forever.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Zombies were scheduled to return to the road next month for their first tour of their U.K. homeland since 2018, but the trek has now been postponed until 2023.

According to a note on the group’s Facebook page, the postponement is necessary because “one of the band members requires an urgent (but non-life-threatening) medical procedure, and a full 6 weeks of recovery time before he can perform.”

The message continues, “We truly appreciate the patience and understanding of our fans, many of whom have held on to their tickets, despite this tour already being postponed twice due to COVID.”

The U.K. shows, which were to have taken place in February and March of this year, are now scheduled for April and May of 2023. A few new British dates also have been added to The Zombies’ itinerary.

Tickets to the postponed shows will be honored for the rescheduled dates, but refunds also will be available at the point of purchase.

According to their website, the rest of The Zombies’ 2022 tour plans remain unchanged. The band is scheduled to take part on the Flower Power Cruise, which sets sail from Miami on March 28, and then are slated to launch a U.S. trek that’s mapped out from an April 1 show in Orlando, Florida, through a May 1 concert in Fall River, Massachusetts.

The band also has a few Canadian shows scheduled for July, as well as a July 15 concert in Everett, Washington, and a July 28-30 engagement in Park City, Utah. The group also has a tour of mainland Europe set to take place in September.

Visit TheZombiesMusic.com for full details.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

John Mellencamp‘s first studio album in five years, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, was released today.

As previously reported, Bruce Springsteen appears on three of the album’s 12 tracks — “Wasted Days,” “Did You Say Such a Thing” and “A Life Full of Rain.”

In a new interview with USA Today, Mellecamp discusses the inspiration for “Wasted Days,” which was released as an advance single back in September 2021.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who turned 70 last year, notes that the song finds him reflecting on his mortality.

“I figure I’ve got about 10 summers left…I’ve had 70 summers and it’s just a math problem,” he maintains. “When you’re a kid, summers go on forever. But on the sliding ruler, you start pushing it toward time and you realize that 70 summers have come and gone, you don’t want to waste them. I’ll never perform in the summer again because I want to enjoy the summer.”

Mellencamp tells the newspaper that the album’s title refers to a cynical character he devised as the narrator of the songs, noting, “The most dangerous card in the deck is the one-eyed Jack…he has a sword behind his back.”

The album kicks off with the song “I Always Lie to Strangers,” in which, as Mellencamp explains, the character tells the listener “don’t trust me, I’m gonna lie to you and I know you’re gonna lie to me.” John adds, “[T]he whole thing comes to a head in the last verse, ‘this world is run by men much more crooked than me.’ He’s telling you, ‘I know I’m a scoundrel, but the people you pay attention to are bigger liars than me.'”

Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is now available on CD, vinyl and digitally. Here’s the full track list:

“I Always Lie to Strangers”
“Driving in the Rain”
“I Am a Man That Worries”
“Streets of Galilee”
“Sweet Honey Brown”
“Did You Say Such a Thing” (with Bruce Springsteen)
“Gone So Soon”
“Wasted Days” (with Bruce Springsteen)
“Simply a One-Eyed Jack”
“Chasing Rainbows”
“Lie to Me”
“A Life Full of Rain” (with Bruce Springsteen)

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.