Classic Hits

Yes has offered up a second preview track from its forthcoming studio album, The Quest, which is due out on October 1.

The tune, “Dare to Know,” is a multiple-part tune featuring classical and prog-rock elements, and sections showcasing orchestral flourishes.

“‘Dare to Know’ presents a guitar theme played within many different arrangements, with different chord structures and altered textures,” says Yes guitarist Steve Howe. “The ‘idea’ mentioned in the first verse gets described later as an awakening to the subtle goings on within our bodies and mind, all geared to nature’s scheme of things, all fluctuating and rearranging according to the principles of life, as we know it.”

An accompanying mixed-media music video for the song has premiered at Yes’ official YouTube channel. The clip features kaleidoscopic animation segments, scenes that present an eagle’s-eye view of various natural landscapes, photos of all of Yes’ members, song lyrics with lettering apparently created by the band’s longtime cover artist Roger Dean.

“Dare to Know” follows the release of The Quest‘s lead track, “The Ice Bridge,” which also was accompanied by a partially animated music video.

The Quest, which was produced by Howe, can be pre-ordered now. The 11-track collection will be available as a two-CD set featuring eight songs on the main disc and three additional tunes on the second CD.

The album also will be issued in additional formats and configurations, including a limited-edition box set boasting two CDs, two vinyl LPs and a Blu-ray disc.

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Graham Nash has had a passion for photography since he was a child, and now the 79-year-old folk-rock legend has curated a collection of photos he’s taken throughout his long life for a new book that will be released on November 16.

A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash will include photos of his family, friends and musical associates, self-portraits and images of artwork he’s created, as well as commentary he’s written to accompany the pics.

“I’m four months from being 80 years old,” Nash tells Rolling Stone. “I just wanted a collection of my images that turned me on. I’m basically the same as everybody else — if it turns me on, it will probably turn you on, too.”

A Life in Focus features images spanning from photos he snapped of his mother when he was growing up in the U.K. to pics of himself that he took recently at a doctor’s office. The book also includes pics of such famous friends, collaborators and musical contemporaries as Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Mama Cass Elliot, Leon Russell, Bonnie Raitt, his ex-girlfriend Joni Mitchell and his former band mates David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young.

Regarding his approach to taking photos, Graham tells Rolling Stone, “I want to be invisible. I don’t want people to know that I’m taking their image. I always want to look like James Dean and Tony Curtis, someone cool…[I]n most of these shots, these people never knew I was there.”

The book features a preface written by famous filmmaker and music journalist Cameron Crowe, and a foreword penned by Nash’s friend, veteran rock photographer Joel Bernstein.

A Life in Focus can be pre-ordered now.

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Former Fleetwood Mac singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham has just released a third advance track from his forthcoming self-titled solo album, which is due out on September 17.

“Scream,” which is available now via digital formats, is a stripped-down yet upbeat tune that kicks off the album.

“Many of the songs on this album are about the work and discipline it takes in maintaining a long-term relationship,” Buckingham explains in a press statement. “Some of them are more about the discipline and some of them are more about the perks. ‘Scream’ is about the perks. It felt very celebratory and it was also very, very simple and short. To the point.”

He adds, “It made its case and got the hell out. It just seemed like a good place to start the album, somehow. It’s very upbeat and very optimistic and very positive. It’s a celebration of an aspect of life.”

As previously reported, the upcoming album is Buckingham’s first solo studio effort since 2011’s Seeds We Sow and his seventh overall.

The 10-song collection, which Buckingham wrote, produced and recorded at his home studio in Los Angeles, will be available on CD, as a vinyl LP, and on digital and streaming platforms.

Lindsey previously released songs from the album called “I Don’t Mind” and “On the Wrong Side.”

The release of “Scream” coincides with the launch of Buckingham’s new U.S. tour, kicking off tonight in Milwaukee. This marks the first time that Lindsey will be playing in-person concerts since he underwent emergency heart surgery in February 2019.

Visit LindseyBuckingham.com to check out his full tour schedule.

In other news, Buckingham contributed acoustic guitar to a song called “Darling” from pop star Halsey‘s recently released album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.

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John Lennon‘s widow, Yoko Ono, and their son, Sean, are inviting fans to join them on September 9 for a “Global Party” event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of Lennon’s enduring peace anthem “Imagine” and his album of the same name.

As part of the celebration, John and Yoko’s experimental 1971 film Imagine will be screened that day at 2:30 p.m. ET at select theaters or online for free. Fans also will be able to check out the movie, which was restored and re-released in 2018, on Amazon Prime’s music-themed streaming service The Coda Collection. A free seven-day trial is available for non-subscribers.

Also, U.K. radio presenter Tim Burgess will host a special edition of his popular Tim’s Twitter Listening Party at the same time as the Imagine screenings. A variety of notable people associated with Lennon and the album are confirmed to take part in the event, including Yoko, Sean, bassist Klaus Voormann and drummer Alan White.

Subscribers of the AXS TV channel in the U.S. also will be available to watch the movie. The Imagine film can be rented or purchased via Apple TV, iTunes or Amazon Prime, or on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Prior to the September 9 celebrations, AXS TV will be airing an Imagine-related programming block on September 6 starting at 8 p.m. ET. The channel will screen the 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon, followed by the Imagine film.

Various well-known musicians also will appear on AXS TV to discuss how John and Yoko have impacted their lives, and the influence the “Imagine” song and album.

Also, a limited-edition, two-LP white-vinyl set featuring the 2018 “Ultimate Mix” of Imagine plus select outtakes will be released on September 10. Here’s the track list:

LP 1: Imagine — Ultimate Mixes

Side A
“Imagine”
“Crippled Inside”
“Jealous Guy”
“It’s So Hard”
“I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die

Side B
“Gimme Some Truth”
“Oh My Love”
“How Do You Sleep?”
“How?”
“Oh Yoko!”

LP 2: Imagine Outtakes

Side C
“Imagine” (Original demo recorded at Ascot Studios)
“Imagine” (Take 1)
“Crippled Inside” (Take 3)
“Crippled Inside” (Take 6 alternate guitar solo)
“Jealous Guy” (Take 9)
“It’s So Hard” (Take 6)

Side D
“I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die” (Take 25)
“Gimme Some Truth” (Take 4)
“Oh My Love” (Take 6)
“How Do You Sleep?” (Takes 1 & 2)
“Oh Yoko!” (From Bed Peace footage – Sheraton Hotel, Bahamas 1969)

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Motown legend Smokey Robinson is among the artists who will be recognized at this year’s Songs of Hope virtual gala.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will receive the Clive Davis Legend in Songwriting award in acknowledgement of his career achievements as a composer.

Jimmy Jam will co-host the event, which will stream on September 30 starting at 6:30 p.m. PT.

The Songs of Hope gala was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Previous Legend in Songwriting award honorees have included Burt Bacharach and Diane Warren.

The Songs of Hope gala raises money for the City of Hope charity’s mission to eliminate cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

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After teasing it on social media on Tuesday, Elton John has now confirmed plans to release a star-studded compilation called The Lockdown Sessions.

Due out on October 22, the album collects the many collaborations that Elton worked on after he was forced to put his Farewell tour on pause due to COVID-19. Among these are new songs that he recorded with Stevie Nicks and Stevie Wonder.

“The last thing I expected to do during lockdown was make an album. But, as the pandemic went on, one-off projects kept cropping up,” Elton explains. “Some of the recording sessions had to be done remotely, via Zoom, which I’d obviously never done before. Some of the sessions were recorded under very stringent safety regulations: working with another artist, but separated by glass screens.”

He adds, “But all the tracks I worked on were really interesting and diverse, stuff that was completely different to anything I’m known for, stuff that took me out of my comfort zone into completely new territory.”

The Lockdown Sessions features Elton collaborating with more than 20 artists over 16 tracks, 10 of which are previously unreleased. The unreleased tracks include his collaborations with Nicks and Wonder, as well as with the late Glen Campbell, Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, Nicki Minaj, Lil Nas X and Charlie Puth.

Also included is his new single with Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix),” and the all-star version of Metallica‘s “Nothing Else Matters” that he recorded with Miley Cyrus, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, guitarist/producer Andrew Watt, and famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

In an Instagram message, Elton adds that he’s also working on a regular album with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, which will be his next release.

Here’s The Lockdown Sessions track list:

Elton John & Dua Lipa — “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”
Elton John, Young Thug & Nicki Minaj — “Always Love You”
Surfaces feat. Elton John — “Learn to Fly”
Elton John & Charlie Puth — “After All”
Rina Sawayama & Elton John — “Chosen Family”
Gorillaz feat. Elton John & 6LACK — “The Pink Phantom”
Elton John & Years & Years — “It’s a sin” (global reach mix)
Miley Cyrus feat. WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo & Chad Smith — “Nothing Else Matters”
Elton John & SG Lewis — “Orbit”
Elton John & Brandi Carlile — “Simple Things”
Jimmie Allen & Elton John — “Beauty in the Bones”
Lil Nas X feat. Elton John — “One Of Me”
Elton John & Eddie Vedder — “E-Ticket”
Elton John & Stevie Wonder — “Finish Line”
Elton John & Stevie Nicks — “Stolen Car”
Glen Campbell & Elton John — “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

 

 

 

 

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The Doobie Brothers kicked off their long-delayed 50th anniversary tour on August 22, but the band unfortunately has had to postpone a series of shows because “a member of the touring personnel has tested positive for COVID-19.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers announced that they were postponing for upcoming concerts “[o]ut of an abundance of caution — shows that had been scheduled for September 2 in Clarkson, Michigan; September 4 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania; September 5 in Toledo, Ohio; and September 8 in Cincinnati.

The tour features a reunion with former Doobie Brothers singer/keyboardist Michael McDonald, but it appears that McDonald may be the reason for the postponements. According to Minneapolis newspaper the Star Tribune, McDonald sat out the band’s most recent show, a performance Tuesday at the Minnesota State Fair, because had come down with COVID-19.

The paper reports that during the concert, Doobie Brothers member Patrick Simmons explained to the crowd that Michael was “recuperating and isolating,” adding, “We hope to have him back in a week or so.”

Simmons also noted that McDonald “had his vaccine…But the show must go on.”

According to The Doobie Brothers’ announcement, the tour is expected to get underway again on September 9 in in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Fans who have purchased tickets to the postponed concerts are being encouraged to hold on to them, as they will honored when the dates are rescheduled.

Prior to the Minnesota State Fair show, founding Doobies frontman Tom Johnston told the Star Tribune a COVID compliance officer is traveling with the group on the tour, and that all band members and crew personnel have been vaccinated.

The Doobie Brothers’ postponements come after KISS had to postpone a series of concerts because both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons tested positive for COVID-19.

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The Doors will release a deluxe 50th anniversary reissue of their classic 1971 album, L.A. Woman, on December 3.

L.A. Woman: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition will be available as a three-CD/one-LP set that features a newly remastered version of the album on one CD, two bonus CDs of unreleased studio outtakes, and the new stereo mix of the original album pressed on 180-gram vinyl.

Released in April 1971, L.A. Woman was the last album The Doors recorded with their iconic frontman, Jim Morrison, who died on July 3, 1971, at age 27. The album reached #9 on the Billboard 200 chart, and yielded two hit singles, “Love Her Madly” and “Riders on the Storm,” which peaked at #11 and #14, respectively, on Billboard‘s Hot 100. Among the record’s other memorable songs is the title track, which remains a classic rock radio staple.

Among the unreleased tracks is the original demo of “Riders on the Storm,” which was recorded at Sunset Sound studio before The Doors relocated to their rehearsal space in Santa Monica, California, to make the album. The demo is available now as an advanced digital track, while an animated companion video has premiered on YouTube.

Other unreleased recordings on the reissue include covers of Junior Parker‘s “Mystery Train,” John Lee Hooker‘s “Crawling King Snake,” Big Joe Williams‘ “Baby Please Don’t Go” and Lee Dorsey‘s “Get Out of My Life Woman.” Also among the bonus tracks are multiple consecutive takes of “The Changeling,” “Love Her Madly,” “Riders on the Storm” and “L.A. Woman.”

Longtime Doors engineer Bruce Botnick, who originally produced L.A. Woman, also created the album’s new stereo mix. The reissue features liner notes penned by acclaimed rock journalist David Fricke.

Here’s the full track list of the L.A. Woman deluxe reissue’s CDs:

Disc One: L.A. Woman – Original Stereo Mix Remastered
“The Changeling”
“Love Her Madly”
“Been Down So Long”
“Cars Hiss by My Window”
“L.A. Woman”
“L’America”
“Hyacinth House”
“Crawling King Snake”
“The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)”
“Riders on the Storm”

Bonus Tracks
“Hyacinth House” (Demo)
“Riders on the Storm” (Sunset Sound Version – Original Demo)*

Disc Two: L.A. Woman Sessions, Part 1
“The Changeling”*
“Love Her Madly”*
“Riders on the Storm”*
“L.A. Woman” (Part 1)*

Disc Three: L.A. Woman Sessions, Part 2
“L.A. Woman” (Part 2)*
“She Smells So Nice”*
“Rock Me Baby”*
“Mr. Mojo Risin'”*
“Baby Please Don’t Go”*
“L.A. Woman” (Part 3)*
“Been Down So Long”*
“Get Out of My Life Woman”*
“Crawling King Snake”*
“The Bastard Son of Jimmy & Mama Reed (Cars Hiss by My Window)”*
“Been Down So Long”*
“Mystery Train”*
“The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)”*

* = previously unreleased.

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Sting has announced plans for a new album, The Bridge, which will be released on November 19.  The upbeat first single, “If It’s Love,” which describes being in love as some kind of symptom, is out now on all digital platforms.

Speaking about the song, Sting says in a statement, “I’m certainly not the first songwriter to equate falling in or out of love with an incurable sickness, nor will I be the last. ‘If It’s Love’ is my addition to that canon where the tropes of metaphorical symptoms, diagnosis, and downright incapacity are all familiar enough to make each of us smile ruefully.”

Sting wrote and recorded The Bridge over the past year in lockdown, with the musicians contributing their parts remotely.  As for the title, he explains, “These songs are between one place and another, between one state of mind and another, between life and death, between relationships. Between pandemics, and between eras — politically, socially and psychologically, all of us are stuck in the middle of something. We need a bridge.”

The Bridge, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available in various formats, including standard and deluxe CD and vinyl, and on cassette. The deluxe CD and vinyl versions will feature bonus tracks, including a cover of Otis Redding‘s “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.”

The Bridge is Sting’s first solo album of original material since 2016’s 57th & 9th.

Sting will return to performing live later this month with a September 27 gig in Sicily, Italy, followed by two shows in Greece. His Las Vegas residency, My Songs, kicks off October 29.

Here’s The Bridge‘s full track list:

“Rushing Water”
“If It’s Love”
“The Book of Numbers”
“Loving You”
“Harmony Road”
“For Her Love”
“The Hills on the Border”
“Captain Bateman”
“The Bells of St. Thomas”
“The Bridge”
“Waters of Tyne”*
“Captain Bateman’s Basement”*
“(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay”*
“I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City”**

* = Deluxe bonus track
** = Japanese exclusive bonus track

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Here’s wishing a Happy 75th Birthday to Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of The Bee Gees.

Barry formed The Bee Gees with younger brothers Robin and Maurice, and the group’s first success came in Australia in the early 1960s after the Gibb family moved there from the U.K.

The Bee Gees’ career took off internationally after the Gibbs moved back to the U.K. in 1967.

The group’s first U.S. hit was “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in ’67. Over the next several years, the group scored such other hits as “To Love Somebody,” “Massachusetts,” “Words,” “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You,” “Lonely Days” and the chart-topping “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”

In the mid-’70s, The Bee Gees began exploring a more danceable, R&B-influenced sound that featured Barry’s signature falsetto vocals, leading to hits like “Jive Talkin’,” “Nights on Broadway,” and “You Should Be Dancing.”

In 1977, The Bee Gees were catapulted to super-stardom with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which helped launch the disco craze. The album ultimately went 16-times platinum on the strength of the #1 hits “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Stayin’ Alive.”

The Bee Gees’ popularity began waning by 1980 thanks partly to a backlash against disco, but Barry and his brothers continued to have success writing songs for other artists, including their youngest brother, Andy, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick and Diana Ross.

The Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Sadly, Maurice and Robin died in 2003 and 2012, respectively.

In recent years, Barry has focused on a solo career. His latest album, a star-studded duets collection Greenfields, was released in January.

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