Cover of the week

! new section!

The White Stripes, 'Jolene'
Original Artist: Dolly Parton



Sorry, Dolly fans. Parton certainly turns in a lovely version of her own song, which appeared on the 1974 disc of the same name, but we're partial to the White Stripes' cover, which first turned up as the B-side to their 2000 single of 'Hello Operator,' off the album 'De Stijl,' and was later released as a single in its own right in live form on 'Under Blackpool Lights.' Both covers find the Stripes doing a pretty straight-up version of the original, albeit with a slightly harder and punkier approach. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them.

Eric Clapton Reveals Full Guest List for New Album

Not since the days of Derek & the Dominos has Eric Clapton been an active member of any band, but the sheer amount of musicians that he has collaborated with has rendered him as far from ‘solo’ as a solo artist can get. This trend continues with Old Sock, Clapton’s new cover-heavy album which will hit shelves in March.

The British icon, per usual, didn’t cut any corners on recruiting some help.

According to the Clapton official website, J.J. Cale, the talented mind behind some of Clapton’s hits including “After Midnight”, and “Cocaine” gets a crack at his own material, taking over the vocals for “Angel”. Clapton also enlists soul queen Chaka Khan as a backup vocalist for “Gotta Get Over”, one of two new original songs. Former Blind Faith bandmate and renaissance musician man Steve Winwood will throw down on the track “Still Got the Blues” on organ, and renowned session drummer Jim Keltner will continue to do what he does best and keep the beat of “Our Love is Here to Stay”. And let’s not forget, that the illustrious Sir Paul McCartney will lend his talents at vocals and bass to “All of Me”.

Other artists appearing on the LP include George Gershwin, Peter Tosh, Leadbelly, Hank Snow and Taj Mahal.

10 songs out of the album are covers of blues, rock, and reggae songs spanning over several decades beginning in the 1930s; the two remaining tracks, "Gotta Get Over" and "Every Little Thing", are brand new songs from Slowhand himself.

For more on this story, head to EricClapton.com and check out the entire tracklisting for Old Sock below!

Old Sock Tracklisting:

1 Further On Down The Road
2 Angel
3 The Folks Who Live On The Hill
4 Gotta Get Over
5 Till Your Well Runs Dry
6 All Of Me
7 Born To Lose
8 Still Got The Blues
9 Goodnight Irene
10 Your One and Only Man
11 Every Little Thing
12 Our Love Is Here To Stay

Ringo Starr to Appear on New ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Special

Few things seemed more incongruous on children’s television in 1989 than Ringo Starr‘s time on PBS’ show, ‘Shining Time Station’ (apart, of course, from when George Carlin took over for Ringo a year later). Starr is about to make the year spent as ‘Mr. Conductor’ look perfectly normal later this year when he lends his talents to a Cartoon Network special of ‘The Powerpuff Girls.’

Hypable is reporting that Starr will not play himself (as he did on ‘The Simpsons‘), but rather Fibonacci Sequins, who is the “most famous flamboyant mathematician” in all of Townsville, the fictional town where the animated show takes place. Starr will also sing a song, ‘I Wish I Was A Powerpuff Girl.’

For those of you who didn’t have young daughters or nieces in the early 21st century, ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ ran on the Cartoon Network from 1998 until 2005. It featured three girls – Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup – who are repeatedly called on to defend Townsville from a rotating cast villains, most notably the evil monkey Mojo Jojo. The show also spawned a hit 2002 movie.

The show received praise for its stylized animation, message of female empowerment and pop culture references that adults could enjoy. One episode, called ‘Meet the Beat-Alls,’ dealt with four of the show’s villains forming a band, and featured references to approximately 65 Beatles songs.

John Fogerty Re-Works Classic Creedence Songs on New ‘Wrote a Song For Everyone’ Album

John Fogerty has confirmed that his upcoming album will be centered around classic Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, but the album’s engineer says the result is completely new songs. Kid Rock, Bob Seger, Jennifer Hudson and the Foo Fighters are among the confirmed musicians who contributed to ‘Wrote a Song for Everyone.’

“It’s no nostalgia fest,” Bob Clearmountain tells Rolling Stone. Fogerty says he waited to record with each of his chosen partners until they could meet in studio and do it live. “I didn’t want to just mail people tracks because then everyone would just do ‘Proud Mary’ like the old record,” he says in the same interview.

He’s been working on the album since 2010, and originally scheduled it for release in October 2012. A press release about the delay suggested there would be original material on the album, something that is not addressed in the Rolling Stone article. The focus is on the old CCR songs, however. Fogerty has finally regained publishing rights to the songs after a lengthy legal battle.

“I wrote all these songs,” he said. ” They’re back home with Daddy, like they should be.”

Confirmed songs on ‘Wrote a Song for Everyone’ include ‘Fortunate Son,’ ‘Born on the Bayou’ and ‘Long As I Can See the Light.’

The Who, Elvis Costello to Perform Benefit Concert

The Who will close out their U.S. tour on Feb. 28 with a special intimate concert at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Dubbed “Who Cares,” the show will benefit their Teen Cancer America charity and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Elvis Costello and the Imposters will serve as the opening act for the evening.

Teen Cancer America was founded by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend in November 2012 with the intention of improving the lives of people between the ages of 13 and 24 who have been stricken with cancer. This is accomplished by working with hospitals to improve facilities and develop programs used in the treatment of youth cancer patients.

Daltrey has long been associated with the U.K.’s Teenage Cancer Trust — of which he is a Patron — having thrown benefit concerts at the Royal Albert Hall for them for more than a decade. Back in August, Daltrey auctioned off an autographed shirt he wore on the band’s 1976 tour.

The rock legends are no strangers to benefit concerts. In 1985 they reunited for a one-off performance at Live Aid. Four years later they performed ‘Tommy’ as a benefit for the Nordoff-Robbins music therapy foundation, and most recently appeared at the 12-12-12 Hurricane Sandy relief benefit.

44 anniversary: The Beatles Perform Live for the Last Time, On a London Rooftop

“I’d like to say ‘Thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition”

Outside of perhaps Johnny Rotten saying “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” at the Sex Pistols‘ final concert, no other group ended its history as a live act with such fitting words. And they were spoken by John Lennon from a London rooftop after the Beatles last-ever live performance on Jan 30, 1969.

The ‘Get Back’ project, which morphed into ‘Let it Be,’ was an attempt by the Beatles to return to their roots as a pure rock n’ roll band after the studio-heavy work of the previous three years. The idea was to film the band rehearsing and recording the songs, with a concert marking their first performance since saying goodbye to the road on in San Francisco on Aug. 29, 1966.

By this point in their career, the Beatles hated each other. The ‘Let it Be’ film that eventually emerged doesn’t show a band rediscovering itself so much as falling apart, a far cry from the smiling moptops that took over the world only five years prior. George Harrison even quit during the rehearsals at Twickenham Film Studios earlier in the month, but returned a few days later. Most of the animosity was directed at Paul McCartney, who was going through a particularly creative period and was trying to drum up enthusiasm among his bandmates, but often came across as bossy.

All sorts of locations were suggested for the concert, everywhere from a London pub to a Greek amphitheater to the Sahara Desert. But all of those would involve too much work, a sign of their unwillingness to spend any more time around each other than absolutely necessary. On Jan. 29, they agreed to move their equipment from the basement studios in Apple Corps’ headquarters at 3 Savile Row up to the roof the next day.

The Beatles’ crew spent the morning setting up the gear and running cables down to the basement. To cope with the January wind, engineer Alan Parsons was sent out to buy ladies’ stockings to put over the microphones to his considerable embarrassment. By lunchtime, everything was ready to go.

For all the acrimony surrounding the band at the time, the performance finds the Beatles doing what they were trying to force throughout the month. The group – with their old friend Billy Preston on electric piano – actually sounds happy to be playing together. “We’ve had a request from Martin Luther,” John quipped after the first attempt at ‘Get Back,’ recalling, no doubt, the many afternoon sessions they played at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. He and Paul occasionally exchange looks between them that put aside all the bitterness between the two.

After a second stab at ‘Get Back,’ they moved on to ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ and ‘I’ve Got a Feeling.’ Next was ‘One After 909,’ a song Lennon and McCartney wrote in their early days, and ‘Dig a Pony.’ Both performances were released on the ‘Let it Be’ album.

By this point, the music coming from the sky brought the neighborhood to a halt. Despite the cold and damp, crowds gathered along the street, neighbors opened up their windows and cars stopped on the streets. Of course, not everybody was happy with the noise, and the police were called to intervene.

Unaware of what was going on below them, the Beatles kept playing. Second attempts at ‘I’ve Got a Feeling’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ were made, and a third run through of ‘Get Back’ was made. By this time, however, the police had arrived. On their orders, Harrison’s and Lennon’s amplifiers were turned off mid-song, but the musicians turned them back on in time to finish the song.

“You’ve been out too long, Loretta,” McCartney, seeing the policemen, improvises in the spoken section. “You’ve been playing on the roofs again, and that’s no good. ‘Cause you know your Mommy doesn’t like that. She gets angry. She’s gonna have you arrested!”

Seconds later, the song came to halt. McCartney thanks Maureen Starkey, whose red coat her husband, Ringo Starr, was wearing. Lennon says his famous line, and the Beatles’ final performance came to an ignominious end. Approximately half of the 42-minute concert wound up in the ‘Let it Be’ film.

McCartney would run afoul of the law in concert 43 years later when, while sitting in with Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park, the show ran beyond the local curfew. Police pulled the plug as McCartney and the E Street Band were finishing ‘Twist & Shout.’

enjoy the Beatles’ Rooftop Concert

Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood + More to Guest on Eric Clapton’s ‘Old Sock’

On Monday (Jan. 28), Eric Clapton announced that he is putting out a new album, ‘Old Sock,’ on March 12. Apart from the track listing, not too much other information has been available about the project. However, on Wednesday (Jan. 30) Clapton revealed the many guest stars who will appear on the record.

The quality of cameos should take the sting out of seeing the cell-phone-camera-vacation-self-portait that is being used for the cover photo. Digital Spy is reporting that Clapton’s old partner in Blind Faith, Steve Winwood, will provide his signature soulful organ playing to ‘Still Got the Blues.’ Paul McCartney, on whose ‘Kisses on the Bottom’ Clapton played, contributes bass and vocals to ‘All of Me.’

Two other musicians of note lend their talents to ‘Old Sock.’ JJ Cale — who wrote Clapton’s hits ‘After Midnight’ and ‘Cocaine’ — plays guitar and sings background vocals on ‘Angel,’ while soul legend Chaka Khan (‘I’m Every Woman,’ ‘Tell Me Something Good’) sings on ‘Get on Over.’ Bringing it full circle, Khan also sang on Winwood’s 1986 smash ‘Higher Love.’

‘Old Sock’ will be released on Clapton’s own Bushbranch Records label. It contains ten covers and two originals, ‘Every Little’ and ‘Gotta Get Over.’ The legendary guitarist will play a month of shows beginning March 14, culminating at the two-day Crossroads Guitar Festival at New York’s Madison Square Garden on April 12 and 13.

Paul McCartney Takes Good Care of His Sheep

Given his decades of outspoken advocacy for vegetarianism and animal rights, it probably shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that the animals on Paul McCartney‘s sheep farm don’t have to worry about ending up on anyone’s dinner plate. In fact, as he revealed during a recent interview, they tend to live to a ripe old age.

“I live on a sheep farm and we shear the sheep, but they die of old age,” McCartney mused during a Jan. 27 appearance on the U.K.’s Radio 4. “But it can be embarrassing. People say, ‘Look at the state of your sheep!’ And I say, ‘Yes, they’re very old. There’s only one alternative — to send them off to the knacker’s yard.’”

McCartney went on to wax philosophical about his livestock’s existence, adding, “They just die like we do. It’s life, it’s death, it’s what happens,” We just give them a good life and I take the wool from them.”

The former Beatle was visiting Radio 4 to promote a few things, including his meat-free Monday campaign and a renewed advertising push behind the Linda McCartney Foods line of vegetarian cuisine. “Basically what we’re saying with the meat-free Monday campaign is that out of your seven days, you might think of one day being meat-free,” explained McCartney. “We’re not really pushing it too heavily. We’re not saying you should go veggie, it’s good for you. We’re saying ‘just try one day’, and a lot of people say that’s very do-able, a very accessible idea, and they enjoy it. There are all sorts of economic arguments that in a recession, meat tends to be the expensive bit of what you buy, so generally speaking, I think it’s a good idea.”

Mike Nesmith of The Monkees Announces 2013 Solo U.S. Tour Dates

After the huge success of last year’s Monkees tour, the usually reclusive Mike Nesmith has been recharged and is embarking on his own solo tour this spring. Nesmith took to Facebook to deliver this information today (Jan. 28). The dates are listed below.

“This is the tour to break in the show,” he wrote. “See if you like it, earn the promoters confidence, and see if anybody comes. If it goes well we will keep going later in the summer/fall and hit the states we missed on this half-lap of the U.S. If it goes poorly we will stare blankly into the future and post pictures of cute animals and food.”

Two weeks ago, Nesmith teased his fans – also on Facebook – with the news of an upcoming solo tour in an amusing and offbeat post. “I thought the man and woman at the door might be from a religious group,” he wrote. “I was wrong. It was an easy mistake to make, it turns out they were from TIAPWWGAI (The International Association of People Who Wont Go Away) and I had been per-approved for membership. I found out later that acceptance in the club is automatic at a certain age. I wondered how they got my name and they said they heard I was going on tour in the U.S. this Spring.”

The band for this tour will consist of Nesmith on guitar, bassist Joe Chemay, Paul Leim on drums and Boh Cooper on keyboards. Rock on, Papa Nez!

New Eric Clapton Album Due Out in March

His new album’s title may be Old Sock, but Eric Clapton is still as fresh as ever. Set for release this March, Old Sock will feature two new original songs and Clapton’s own spin on some of his favorite tracks from other artists who have inspired him throughout his career.

The fan-professed rock god’s guitar strings will slide through genre and era, based on the tracklist. Within 10 of the 12 songs, Clapton brings back the days of tube radio through the influential jazz music of George and Ira Gershwin; he explores his blues roots with a cover of one of the genre’s greats, "Taj Mahal"; he even ventures over to some Peter Tosh reggae, among others.

Clapton also digs deep for some help from his friends. The added support of R&B singer Chaka Khan, former Blind Faith bandmate Steve Winwood, and Sir Paul McCartney gives Old Sock some serious kick.

In addition to an upcoming U.S. Spring Tour that will begin Mid-March and culminate in the Crossroads Guitar Festival in New York City a month later, the 67-year-old Clapton still has plenty of history to make. Unlike an old sock, however, he has plenty of history to remember and cherish.

The Who's Pete Townshend Honored with the Les Paul Award

There is no ‘Substitute’ for a great guitarist. Whether you’re in your car with the windows down, blasting some tunes, or sitting at home on your porch, with a brew and a boombox. Wait, do people still use those sweet boomboxes anymore?

No matter what your ‘Generation’ is, the impact of The Who can be felt from coast to coast. Guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend has honored us with his presence for a long time, but on Friday night, it was time for the tables to turn.

Townshend was honored at the 28th annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, presented in California. The Who member was presented with the Les Paul Award, which recognizes achievement in audio technology and production.

The event included a toast from Slash, a message from Mick Jagger and a video greeting from Paul McCartney; a fairly memorable night for any rock star.

The award came just a day before The Who kick off the second leg of their Quadrophenia and More North American tour dates, which begins tonight (January 28th) in Anaheim, CA.

If you’re looking for more of an international flare, the UK rockers have recently announced plans to extend the tour to Europe in the summer. A 12-date starts in Dublin on June 8th and wraps up July 5th in Amsterdam. A summer evening listening to The Who in Europe sounds about as good as it gets!

For more information on The Who’s tour dates, be sure to check out their official website. Tickets for their European tour dates go on sale February first so act fast so you ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again.’

Best Animated Album Covers

‘Abbey Road’

Who knew? If you look closely at the animated Gif created for the classic Beatles album cover ‘Abbey Road,’ it appears they were the precursor to Monty Python’s “Silly Walks.”

In reality, the iconic album cover featuring the band crossing the street was the idea of a sketch created by Paul McCartney. The famous picture was taken on Aug. 8, 1969, and photographer Iain MacMillan had to work under the gun as he was given just 10 minutes to get the shot. MacMillan, up on a stepladder, shot the photo while police held traffic so that the band could cross the street uninterrupted.

‘Tattoo You’

The creator of this animated album cover took the Rolling Stones album title to heart. The artwork for the Peter Corriston-created album cover featured a heavily tattooed person with designs inked all over their face. It also earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Album Package.

But the updated animation reveals there’s still some work left to do. A hand appears in the screen to touch up some fresh ink on the shoulder of the cover model.

‘Electric Warrior’

‘Electric Warrior’ was the sixth album from the band known as T. Rex (and the second after changing their name from Tyrannosaurus Rex to their new and well-known short version).

The artwork for the disc was created by the design group Hipgnosis, who chose to outline singer/guitarist Marc Bolan with a golden glow as he rocks with his amps in the background. The animator for this GIF went with the look of the period, offering a more rainbow animation emanating from Bolan as he rocks.

‘A Hard Day’s Night’

The year was 1964, and by then everyone was gaga over the “Fab Four.” So what better way to build the buzz for the record than by getting their mugs all over the cover. The Beatles were also doing a movie called ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and having their photos splashed everywhere definitely didn’t hurt marketing.

The artwork featured four rows of five photos each of the band, and the animator for this creative GIF lets you take a look at it as though each photo were changing in each box, thus giving you the feel of a page-by-page animated piece.

‘Twist and Shout’

The cover art for the Beatles ‘Twist and Shout’ EP in 1963 featured the ‘Fab Four’ in varying states of unbalance on what looks like the peak of a rooftop.

Have you ever wondered if the guys fell? If so, the animator fulfills that answer. Not only did they fall, they did so with gusto. In the GIF created, each of the band members take a running leap, catapulting themselves to the ground below. We particularly dig Paul McCartney, who’s getting some serious air.

Program 26-enero-2013 rock-mr-q

film cutting "hottest" of the Mr.Q program

Dusk Till Dawn - Full Pussy Scene (Sorry for Quality of video)

The film of Bob Dylan

Did you know that Bob Dylan directed and starred in a movie in 1978?

This nearly four-hour surrealist odyssey (232 m.) is written, directed and starring Bob Dylan himself.
There is a myth about this film, it is considered to be incoherent and confusing, well, it isn’t. Everytime I see it, it strikes me as a unified vision, one man’s vision, where he puts different kind of film stocks and styles together to create an entertaining and, yes, demanding movie. The film is a mixture of fantastic concert footage, documentary style film (dealing with the Hurricane Carter case), and ficitonal, seemingly improvised footage.
Drawing structural and thematic influences from the classic film Les Enfants du Paradis, Dylan infuses Renaldo & Clara with lots of shifting styles, tones, and narrative ideas. Similarities between the two films include the use of whiteface , the recurring flower, the woman in white (Baez), the on-stage and backstage scenes, and the dialogue of both films’ climactic scenes.

Also evident is the Cubist approach of the two films, allowing us to see the main characters from the different perspectives of various lovers. This also echoes some of the songs from this Dylan period (Simple twist of faith and Tangled up in blue coming to mind). Running time is also relatively similar.

It’s a free associating epic that feels pulled straight from Bob Dylan’s brain, Renaldo and Clara is a work of misunderstood genius.

Filmed during his legendary 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue Tour and features an eclectic cast of characters (Allen Ginsberg, Sam Shepard, Arlo Gunthre, Ronnie Hawkins, Harry Dean Stanton, etc) Bob Dylan plays the role of the guitarist Renaldo and his then-wife Sara plays his companion Clara. Joan Baez enters the picture and a love triangle ensues, effectively mirroring Dylan’s own real-life drama. To me it seems to be a fairly accurate description of Dylan’s complicated relationships with women. It simply rings true.



Disheartened by confused critics who didn’t understand the film at the time of its release, Dylan withdrew it from circulation and has kept it locked away in a vault for over 30 years. The only parts of the movie to be released for consumers are the excerpts found on the bonus DVD accompanying the initial release of Dylan’s The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue. Footage from the film also appeared in the music video of Dylan’s 1991 song Series of Dreams.

Joan Baez: I got dressed up to come down here. I heard you were coming through town.
Bob Dylan: -
Joan Baez: What do you think it would have been like if we’d gotten married?
Bob Dylan: I dunno. I haven’t changed that much. Have you?
Joan Baez: Maybe.

Last year there were rumours of an official release, but it has yet to happen. It would be so great to get a HD release this year, it is after all it’s 35 year anniversary.

! We reached the 1000 views!

I want to thank all you who pass by the blog to follow the news and we publish almost every day.

this gives me encouragement to continue ... ! For the 2000!

Mercedes-Benz ‘Diner’ Teaser Commercial – What’s the Song?

Rock fans tuned into Jan. 20, football playoff games got a shock when, during a break in the action, the familiar opening of the Rolling Stones‘ Sympathy for the Devil’ rang out of their television speakers.

The song is being used to tease Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Diner’ commercial, which will premiere during the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. The spot takes place in an old New Orleans corner diner. Suddenly, a dog barks, the wind blows the doors open, coffee bubbles and lights flicker as the customers and staff try to figure out what is going on.

“Something powerful is coming,” the narrator says over the Stones’ classic. “See it on February 3rd.”

The Great-Ads blog says that the full 60-minute spot will also feature supermodel Kate Upton and Usher, who recently got photobombed by Bruce Springsteen. According to reports, a single 30-second spot on the Super Bowl broadcast costs a reported $4 million. Mercedes-Benz also owns the naming rights to the Superdome, where the Super Bowl will be played.

Few songs reflected the global turmoil of 1968 better than the ‘Sympathy for the Devil,’ from the landmark ‘Beggars Banquet’ album. Now it’s being used in an advertisement. More specifically, a tease for another commercial, one which will find the song paired up with the model du jour and a pop star.

Yoko Ono to Celebrate 80th Birthday with Plastic Ono Band Show

One of the most recognizable artists in Rock and Roll history, Yoko Ono, has set celebration plans for her 80th birthday party.

Yoko will be ringing in her eightieth year with a one-off gig in Berlin on Sunday, February 17th. The celebration, which takes place the night before her birthday (February 18th), will include a live show with the Plastic Ono Band, which will be led by her son, Sean Ono Lennon.

And at 80 years young, Ono shows no signs of slowing down. The famed artist has scored a whopping nine consecutive #1 hits on the Billboard dance charts over the past several years, released a John Lennon-inspired clorthing line in 2012, and has a touring museum exhibit entitled "Half-a-Wind-Show" opening at the Schirn Kuntshallein Frankfurt on February 15th.

2013 will also hold a reissue of Yoko Ono's albums from 1968 – 1995 and the release of an artbook entitled Infinite Universe at Dawn, which spans her six-decade art career.

So if you’re in need for a little vacation, hop over the pond to Germany for a celebration to remember!

All-Star Re-Recording of the Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’ Planned

It seems sort of incredible today, but the Beatles recorded their first album in a single 12-hour session — and to celebrate its 50th anniversary, an eclectic group of musicians is coming together to try and record a new ‘Please Please Me’ exactly the same way.

VVN Music reports that the session — which is part of a BBC documentary — will take place on Feb. 11. Although VVN’s report doesn’t offer a complete list of the artists involved, it does name the Stereophonics and former Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall as a pair of participants, and adds that “While many of the artists that will be involved are modern, a couple of names from the past will be on hand.”

The BBC’s Radio Two station plans to broadcast the entire session live, with the event being edited down to a television special — aptly titled ’12 Hours to Please Me’ — that’s set to air four days later, on Feb. 15.

BBC Four exec Richard Klein, who’s supervising the session as part of a series called ‘The Golden Age of the Album,’ enthused, “We’re taking a look behind the scenes of a really exciting moment in popular music history when some of our most iconic albums were recorded, and trying to discover what are the essential ingredients that make an album great.”

The Eagles Premiere Documentary at Sundance

Now that the Eagles have chronicled its 40-year history (actually 41 this year) on film, the group is considering how it might celebrate on the road.

"History of the Eagles," a two-part, three-hour documentary directed by Alison Elwood with the band's full cooperation, premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival and will be shown February 15-16 on Showtime. A DVD release is slated for March, adding live performances from the group's 1977 Hotel California tour.

Glenn Frey, meanwhile, tells us he has an idea for how to apply the history concept to the Eagles next road show, which will likely take place this year:

"We could possibly do a show called 'The History of the Eagles' where we play our music in chronological order, a linear show where we start out with a coach and two chairs and put '1971' upon the screens and play 'Peaceful Easy Feeling' sitting around in a circle. That'll go to when Joe (Walsh) joins the band and we get electric and loud. That's a possibility. It would be a lot of work, but if we could pull it off it would be a great way to do the shows."

The Eagles played a few shows during 2012, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, but mostly concentrated on solo projects. Frey and Walsh each released albums, while Don Henley has been working on one of his own.

Mick Jagger Speaks About Not Doing Coachella

The news that the Rolling Stones will definitely not be playing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival as rumors stated has fleshed out a confirmation that more shows are on the horizon.

Mick Jagger tells Britain's New Musical Express that "we're not gonna stop. I'm going to see what's on the table and discuss it with everyone. We'll announce it when we've figured it out."

The Stones, of course, played five high-profile 50th anniversary concerts -- plus two club warm-up dates -- in November and December, and it briefly listed the Coachella fest on its mobile app. The April show in California was quickly removed, however, and Jagger tells NME that the festival was "too early...It's very early, Coachella. It's April or something, isn't it? We're not gonna be ready to go by April."

The Stones may wind up making some sort of appearance at this year's NME Music Awards, however. The group is up for a field-leading four honors, including Best Live Band, Best Book ("Rolling Stones 50"), Best Music Film ("Crossfire Hurricane") and Music Moment of the Year.

Jagger told NME that, "It's very nice to be nominated. When I first head it was four things, I thought, 'Ooh, blimey! That's very nice! And it`s not a journalists-only thing, it's not a coterie of closely-knit people choosing. It's funny, because when we were rehearsing at Wembley Arena last year, it was where we used to do the NME Pollwinners (concert). We remembered it was the first time we ever played 'Jumping Jack Flash,' at one of those Pollwinners concerts."

The ceremony takes place February 27 in London.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Don’t Mind People Yelling ‘Free Bird’

We’ve all been at concerts where some guy, who’s usually had a few too many, shouts out a request for ‘Free Bird,’ even if it’s not a Lynyrd Skynyrd show. While many of us would love to have security go to town on him – if for nothing else a lack of originality – the members of band, unsurprisingly, have a different take. In a new interview, founding guitarist Gary Rossington spoke about what it means to him.

At the end of an appearance on WNYC’s ‘Soundcheck‘ host John Schaefer asked Rossington and multi-instrumentalist Rickey Medlocke if they’ve ever heard somebody yell ‘Free Bird’ while attending another band’s show. After the laughter died down, Rossington, who played the sweeping slide guitar part on the original recording, spoke about what it means to him.

“It’s kind of embarrassing if you’re with the band that’s playing,” he said. “But it’s a great honor and it’s great that people do that. It’s funny, I hear it not just at concerts, but at movies or anywhere there’s a crowd.”

Rossington, who played the sweeping slide guitar intro on the original recording, then reflected on what he thinks about when he hears the request at his own gigs. For him, it’s also a chance to think about his friends who died in the tragic 1977 plane crash.

“I feel so bad – we never get to talk about this – for Ronnie [Van Zant] and Allen [Collins] and Steve [Gaines] to see the people now because back when we wrote these songs…they weren’t classic yet. They were new…you didn’t hear [people shouting] ‘Free Bird’ back then. But now…people will always say, “Don’t you get tired of playing ‘Free Bird’ or ‘[Sweet Home] Alabama‘ and I say, ‘No, man. You should see the crowd. It’s just great. It makes you feel like it’s brand new every time we play it.”

!! happy 67th birthday!!! Dolly

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
― Dolly Parton
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
― Dolly Parton
“I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren’t in the book. I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets.”
― Dolly Parton

Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music.

Beginning her career as a child performer, Parton issued a few modestly successful singles in the mid-1960s, showcasing her distinctive soprano voice. She came to greater prominence in 1967 as a featured performer on singer Porter Wagoner’s weekly television program; their first duet single “The Last Thing on My Mind” was a hit on the country charts and led to several successful albums before they ended their partnership in 1974. Moving towards mainstream pop music, Parton’s 1977 single “Here You Come Again” was a success on both the country and pop charts. A string of pop-country hits followed into the mid-1980s, notably recording a pair of successful albums with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, along with the creation of the Dollywood amusement park. In the late 1990s, Parton returned to classic country/bluegrass with a series of acclaimed recordings.

She has composed over 3,000 songs, the best known of which include “I Will Always Love You” (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper for Parton, as well as an international pop hit for Whitney Houston), “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors”, “Here You Come Again” (Parton’s first significant crossover hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100), “9 to 5″, and “My Tennessee Mountain Home”. Parton is one of the most successful female country artists of all time, and with an estimated 100 million in album sales, she is also one of the best selling artists of all time in any genre.

As an actress, she starred in the movies 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, Gnomeo & Juliet, Straight Talk, Unlikely Angel, and Joyful Noise.

A Beatle's Last Hot 100 No. 1: 25 Years Ago

 


It was 25 years ago today (to very loosely paraphrase the band) that a Beatle last topped the Billboard Hot 100, as George Harrison's 'Got My Mind Set on You' reached No. 1.




Twenty-five years ago today, a member of the Beatles topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the last time.

On this date (Jan. 16) in 1988, George Harrison rose 2-1 on the survey with "Got My Mind Set on You," the first single from his album 'Cloud Nine.' The song became Harrison's third Hot 100 leader, following the double-sided "My Sweet Lord"/"Isn't It a Pity" (1970) and "Give Me Love - (Give Me Peace on Earth)" (1973).

Gone But Not Forgotten: Music Stars We Lost in 2012

After the Beatles tallied a record 20 No. 1s between Feb. 1, 1964 ("I Want to Hold Your Hand") and June 13-20, 1970 ("The Long and Winding Road"), Harrison became the first Beatle to top the Hot 100 as a soloist following their breakup, when "Lord" lifted to No. 1 the week of Nov. 28, 1970. Paul McCartney followed when "Uncle Albert"/"Admiral Halsey," with Linda McCartney, reigned the week of Sept. 4, 1971. Ringo Starr took "Photograph" to the top on Nov. 24, 1973, and John Lennon first ruled with "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" on Nov. 16, 1974.

Chart Moves: Beatles For Sale on Billboard 200, Kelly Clarkson's 'Stronger' LP Hits 1 Million Sales

Along with Harrison's three Hot 100 No. 1s, McCartney, including his time with Wings, has notched nine leaders and Starr and Lennon have each collected two, making for 36 trips to the top for the Fab Four combined between 1964 and 1988. (Notably, it's now been more years - 25 - since a Beatle last led the Hot 100 than their span of group and solo No. 1s).

The follow-up to Harrison's last No. 1 (which features Starr on drums) celebrated the iconic band that gave him his start: "When We Was Fab" reached No. 23 in March 1988. In 1995-96, the Beatles would tally their final Hot 100 entries to date (upping their sum to 71 Hot 100 hits). "Free As a Bird," a reworking of a John Lennon song with new elements, from the first edition of the group's three mid-'90s "Anthology" sets, rose the highest, peaking at No. 6 the week of Jan. 6, 1996.
Read more at http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/rock-and-pop/a-beatle-s-last-hot-100-no-1-25-years-ago-1008094152.story#fdkpihpIAi0XFMeS.99

Joe Strummer will have a plaza in Granada

Joe Strummer (The clash) will have a plaza in Granada, Spain, named after him following a Facebook petition that swayed city officials with the signatures of more than 2,000 residents, the BBC reports.

Now to be known as Plaza de Joe Strummer, the campaign to rename the square was reportedly started by a neighborhood association and even drew the support of a few political parties. "It was a popular movement," said Granada City Council member Daniel Galan. "It is very well known the connection between Joe and the city and people still remember him. There were some people who were friends with him and came here and [now] live here."

100 Greatest Artists: The Clash

Strummer, who died in 2002, was a frequent visitor to Granada, first traveling there with Spanish girlfriend Paloma Romero (who later drummed for the Slits under the name Palmolive) in 1970 and name-dropping the city on the Clash song "Spanish Bombs," from their classic London Calling LP. The punk legend even became involved with the local group 091 after hearing them on a jukebox in a bar, eventually producing an album for them in Madrid.

One of the political groups backing the name change was the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, whose spokesman said Strummer helped spread Granada's name worldwide and embodied the "atmosphere of youth, rebellion, night and rock."

"Spanish Bombs," The Clash

Bob Dylan covers by 5 great Soul Ladies

It is strange how well Dylan’s songs sound in these interpretations by African/American women. They are so different from the originals, yet they seem to convey the songs meaning in an even more direct way than Bob Dylan’s own versions. They might not be better, but they’re excitingly done and very good in a different kind of way.


Nina Simone – The Ballad of Hollis Brown



Odetta Holmes – Tomorrow is a long time


Nina Simone – I Shall be realeased (not complete but the only live footage I found):


Patti Labelle – Forever Young (songs starts 3 min. into the video):


Randy Crawford – Knocking on Heavens door:


Caesar from Masked and Anonymous soundtrack:

Muscle Shoals Documentary to Premiere at Sundance

It looks like Dave Grohl’s documentary about the infamous Sound City Studios in California is going to have some similar competition at Sundance this year.

Rolling Stone reports that the film Muscle Shoals will also be making its premiere at the festival later this month. The documentary chronicles FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, a pair of recording facilities owned by Rick Hall in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

The studios have played home to several iconic artists’ recording efforts through the decades, some of which include The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Wilson Pickett and Paul Simon. The name Muscle Shoals may also sound familiar to Lynyrd Skynyrd fans, as the band pays homage to the studios’ rhythm section, The Swampers, in their hit, “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Muscle Shoals director and screenwriter Greg “Freddy” Camalier says of the film on its official website, “Muscle Shoals comes from the heart – not only the film but the entirety of the tale itself.”

The documentary is set to premiere on at Sundance on January 26th at 3:30pm.

For more info on the film, http://www.muscleshoalsmovie.com

Today: The late Ronnie Van Zant was born in 1948 – 65 years ago

Ronald Wayne “Ronnie” Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the older brother of the founder and vocalist of 38 Special, Donnie Van Zant, and of current Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant.

Van Zant formed Skynyrd late in the summer of 1964 with friends and schoolmates Allen Collins (guitar), Gary Rossington (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums). Lynyrd Skynyrd’s name is a mock tribute to a gym teacher the boys had in high school, Leonard Skinner, who disapproved of male students with long hair.

The band’s national exposure began in 1973 with the release of their debut album, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-’nérd ‘Skin-’nérd), which has a string of hits and fan favorites including: “I Ain’t the One”, “Tuesday’s Gone”, “Gimme Three Steps”, “Simple Man,” and their signature song, “Free Bird”, which he later dedicated to the late Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s biggest hit single was “Sweet Home Alabama” from the album Second Helping. ”Sweet Home Alabama” was an answer song to Neil Young’s “Alabama” and “Southern Man.” Young’s song “Powderfinger” on the 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps was reportedly written for Skynyrd, and Van Zant is pictured on the cover of Street Survivors wearing a T-shirt of Young’s Tonight’s the Night.

Billy Gibbons (ZZ TOP) Inducted into Vintage Guitar Hall of Fame

Billy Gibbons’ epic beard may well be a testament to the decades of dedication he has put into shaking the foundations of rock as the founding member of the legendary ZZ Top.

Vintage Guitar magazine’s contributors and readers seem to agree as they have inducted Gibbons into the publication’s 2012 Hall of Fame along with late jazz guitarist Charlie Christian, Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews, and the iconic Gibson Les Paul Jr. guitar.

“Whether laying rock’s most-famous licks on a Strat or his legendary Les Paul Standard, Pearly Gates, or any number of tracks and guitars in the more than 40 years that is ZZ Top history, Billy Gibbons has been a guitarist who purveys utmost style,” said Vintage Guitar editor Ward Meeker.

Due in no small part to Gibbons, the Texas-native trio were celebrated in May 1991 and May 1997 for “ZZ Top Day” statewide, officially recognized as heroes to their home state by its House of Representatives (next to Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie), given stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Gibbons is also in the middle of organizing the return of his first band, Moving Sidewalks, to the stage for a one-time show on March 30 at B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill in Manhattan.

Regarding the events leading up to the reunion, he told The New York Times, “(the other members of Moving Sidewalks and I) kept in touch, we kept up the correspondence, and it was quite a robust exchange. And remarkably, although I’d gone to a different planet and the other three had their day gigs, they were all weekend warriors, playing in bands here and there. So by a stroke of good fortune, when the opportunity came along, they had the interest, and had kept up their chops.”

Moving Sidewalks has historically played a wide variety of music ranging from B.B. King covers to R&B, so the final set list is up in the air. Whether the band will kick out some ZZ Top is also a point of interest.

“I think they’re restricting us to a 75-minute performance,” Gibbons told The New York Times of the concert. “We’ll try to persuade them to go longer, because there’s such a wealth of material.”

Given that Gibbons’ influence on the industry is as deep as his rock repertoire, the newly-minted Vintage Guitar Hall of Famer might just be able to sneak in a few more songs.

McCartney Licenses Song for Ad Campaign for Late Wife's Food Line

Paul McCartney is singing for his and other vegetarians', suppers these days.

McCartney has recorded a new, acoustic version of "Heart of the Country," a song from his 1971 album "Ram," for use as an animated online promotion for his late first wife Linda McCartney's frozen vegetarian food line.

The 40-second spot features a cartoon image of Linda cavorting with a variety of appreciative animals in the woods, playing accordion and presenting a veggie burger, while Paul performs the song accompanied by just acoustic guitar and accordion.

McCartney co-wrote "Heart of the Country" with Linda and released it as the B-side to the single "The Back Seat of My Car;" he also created a video for the song.

Last year's reissue "Ram -- Paul McCartney Archive Collection (Deluxe Edition)" is nominated for a pair of Grammy Awards -- Best Historical Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. The ceremony takes place February 10 in Los Angeles.

The music of Janis Joplin

A classic rock artist who died young who, if they hadn't died, would be turning 70. Lennon. Zappa. Hendrix. And now, Joplin. I can't help trying to imagine what they would look like, what more would they have accomplished, whether they would still be performing.

Janis Lyn Joplin was born on January 19, 1943 and had a tragically brief, but remarkable career. The pressures of her career, combined with her drug addiction, led to her death of a heroin overdose in 1970, at the age of 27. She had recorded four studio albums, and several live performances which have been released since her death.

As her career progressed, so did her insecurities, her fears, and her addiction. If you know they were there, you can see and hear them reflected in her music between 1967 when her first album was released, and 1971 when her last one came out a few months after she died.

We'll never know what might have been. But as you watch and listen, you can't help but wonder.

Brit Nominees Announced, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Muse receive nominations.

Nominations for this year's Brit Awards were announced last night, and you can view the complete list below.

The Rolling Stones are up for Best Live Act, despite playing just a small number of gigs in 2012, while Muse have scored nominations for Best British Group and Best Live Act.

Bruce Springsteen is nominated for Best International Male, competing with Jack White and Frank Ocean.

Alt-J have scored three nominations, including Best British Group, Best British Album and British Breakthrough.

Mumford and Sons were also tipped in the Best British Group category, as well as the Best Live Act category and Best British Album for 'Babel'.

Amy Winehouse received a posthumous nomination for Best British Female, alongside Paloma Faith, Jessie Ware, Bat For Lashes and Emeli Sande.

Other notable nominations include Jake Bugg and Jessie Ware for British Breakthrough and The Black Keys and The Killers for Best International Group.

The ceremony will take place February 20 at the O2 arena in London. Muse, One Direction, Robbie Williams, Emeli Sande, Mumford and Sons and Ben Howard will be giving live performances during the evening.

Best British Group:
Mumford and Sons
Alt-J
The xx
Muse
One Direction

Best British Album:
Emeli Sande 'Our Version of Events'
Plan B 'Ill Manors'
Alt-J 'An Awesome Wave'
Paloma Faith 'Fall To Grace'
Mumford and Sons 'Babel'

Best British Female:
Amy Winehouse
Paloma Faith
Bat For Lashes
Jessie Ware
Emeli Sande

British British Male:
Calvin Harris
Plan B
Richard Hawley
Ben Howard
Olly Murs

British Breakthrough:
Jake Bugg
Jessie Ware
Alt-J
Ben Howard
Rita Ora

Best Live Act:
Mumford and Sons
Coldplay
Muse
The Vaccines
The Rolling Stones

Best International Group:
The Black Keys
The Script
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
The Killers

Best International Male:
Jack White
Gotye
Michael Buble
Frank Ocean
Bruce Springsteen

Best International Female:
Rihanna
Alicia Keys
Cat Power
Lana Del Rey
Taylor Swift

"Son of Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys" Track List and More

Hows we said on Sunday, Keith Richards, Tom Waits, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith and others record album of "pirate ballads"

A new album collection, entitled "Son of Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys" will hit the shelves on February 19 as a 2-disc compilation. It is a collection of traditional sea-faring tunes, performed by some of rock's biggest names.

The first single will be the famous sailor's ballad "Shenandoah”, sung as a duet by Keith Richards and Tom Waits.

The record will be produced by Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski, and features Waits, Richards, Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Sean Lennon and many more. Depp also contributes vocals on several tracks.

The album is a follow up to Hal Willner’s 2006 production, "Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys.” The idea was first conceived when Willner worked with Depp and Verbinski on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Dead Man's Chest, in which Depp played pirate Captain Jack Sparrow.

"About a year ago I secretly thought we would never finish,” says Willner on the project. "As easy as volume 1 was to coordinate, this was the opposite, but it is a very different record than volume 1. This one seems...happier? Not as much about torture, sodomy and death, which will disappoint some but, we don’t need to repeat ourselves do we?”

Have a listen to "Shenandoah" below, where you will also find the complete track listing of "Son of Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys".



Disc 1:

01. Leaving of Liverpool (Shane MacGowan w/Johnny Depp & Gore Verbinski)
02. Sam’s Gone Away (Robyn Hitchcock)
03. River Come Down (Beth Orton)
04. Row Bullies Row (Sean Lennon w/Jack Shit)
05. Shenandoah (Tom Waits w/Keith Richards)
06. Mr. Stormalong (Ivan Neville)
07. Asshole Rules the Navy (Iggy Pop w/A Hawk and a Hacksaw)
08. Off to Sea Once More (Macy Gray)
09. The Ol’ OG (Ed Harcourt)
10. Pirate Jenny (Shilpa Ray w/Nick Cave & Warren Ellis)
11. The Mermaid (Patti Smith & Johnny Depp)
12. Anthem for Old Souls (Chuck E. Weiss)
13. Orange Claw Hammer (Ed Pastorini)
14. Sweet and Low (The Americans)
15. Ye Mariners All (Robin Holcomb & Jessica Kenny)
16. Tom’s Gone to Hilo (Gavin Friday and Shannon McNally)
17. Bear Away (Kenny Wollesen & The Himalayas Marching Band)

Disc 2:

01. Handsome Cabin Boy (Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention)
02. Rio Grande (Michael Stipe & Courtney Love)
03. Ship in Distress (Marc Almond)
04. In Lure of the Tropics (Dr. John)
05. Rolling Down to Old Maui (Todd Rundgren)
06. Jack Tar on Shore (Dan Zanes w/Broken Social Scene)
07. Sally Racket (Sissy Bounce (Katey Red & Big Freedia) with Akron/Family)
08. Wild Goose (Broken Social Scene)
09. Flandyke Shore (Marianne Faithfull w/Kate & Anna McGarrigle)
10. The Chantey of Noah and his Ark (Old School Song) (Ricky Jay)
11. Whiskey Johnny (Michael Gira)
12. Sunshine Life for Me (Petra Haden w/Lenny Pickett)
13. Row the Boat Child (Jenni Muldaur)
14. General Taylor (Richard Thompson w/Jack Shit)
15. Marianne (Tim Robbins w/Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs)
16. Barnacle Bill the Sailor (Kembra Phaler w/Antony/Joseph Arthur/Foetus)
17. Missus McGraw (Angelica Huston w/The Weisberg Strings)
18. The Dreadnought (Iggy Pop & Elegant Too)
19. Then Said the Captain to Me (Two Poems of the Sea) (Mary Margaret O’Hara)

First Beatles Single Enters Public Domain in Europe, Prompts Multiple Reissues

Want to own a first pressing of the Beatles‘ ‘Love Me Do,’ but don’t have thousands of dollars in the bank? Good news: Thanks to European copyright law, the Fab Four’s first single is now part of the public domain, meaning anyone can issue new copies for sale.

As VVN Music reports, a number of labels have already been quick to take advantage of the copyright’s expiry, with two companies — Digital Remasterings and Pristine Classical — leading the charge. Digital Remasterings has apparently included ‘Love Me Do’ (and its b-side, ‘P.S. I Love You’) on a new compilation of early Beatles cuts, including the perennially reissued Hamburg Star Club live performances, while Pristine Classical is said to be releasing its own version of the single as a protest of sorts.

As detailed in the VVN Music report, European copyright limits are shorter than those in the States, where intense lobbying by media companies has increased American copyright length repeatedly over the last several decades (it currently stands at 95 years). But it appears that the European Union is following America’s lead; the law “may be changed before the end of this year, moving the threshold to 70 years” — good news for anyone who makes a living from royalties, but a setback for labels like Pristine Classical, whose catalog consists entirely of recordings in the public domain.

It’s a fascinating fight for copyright scholars — and for Beatles fans, well, it’s something of an opportunity to purchase more memorabilia.

Keith Richards and Tom Waits Record ‘Shenandoah’

A new collection of songs of the sea brings together Keith Richards and Tom Waits. Compiled in part by actor Johnny Depp, ‘Son of Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys’ will be released on Feb. 19 and features the two grizzled stars together for a rendition of the traditional folk song, ‘Shenandoah.’

The version here is pure Waits, with a ragged men’s chorus that instantly calls to mind his ‘Innocent When You Dream (Barroom)’ from ‘Franks Wild Years.’ Richards chimes in with a bit of background vocals and some electric guitar towards the end.

This isn’t the first time Waits and Richards has collaborated. Richards played on three songs on Waits’ brilliantly groundbreaking 1985 album, ‘Rain Dogs.’ The duo also co-wrote ‘That Feel,’ which closed out Waits’ 1992 record, ‘Bone Machine.’

In his 2010 autobiography, ‘Life,’ Richards describes Waits as “a one-off lovely guy and one of the most original writers.” In the same book, Waits repays the favor by saying that Richards is “like a frying pan made from one piece of metal. He can heat it up really high and it won’t crack, it just changes color.”

Listen to Keith Richards and Tom Waits Perform ‘Shenandoah’

Mr Q Psycho ROCK 12 jan 2013

Crosby Stills & Nash Announce 2013 Tour Dates

Crosby, Stills & Nash will give fans an encore of their critically acclaimed 2012 tour this spring and summer, although you may need to travel to see the trio play. The rockers have announced 23 shows for 2013, including 13 in the southeastern United States and 10 in Europe.

According to the CSN website, the same group of musicians that joined Graham Nash, Stephen Stills and David Crosby for the 2012 tour will return. That ensemble helped create the ‘CSN 2012′ live concert DVD. Together they will play eight stops in Florida before moving on to North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.

The band says more European dates will be announced soon. Among the highlights of their current itinerary are two shows in Paris, and eight in Germany, including the Tollwood Festival in Munchen on July 1. Pre-sale for all shows will begin Jan. 15 at 12PM ET.

Crosby Stills & Nash Tour Dates:

5/5 – Orlando, Fla.
5/7 – Clearwater, Fla.
5/8 – Sarasota, Fla.
5/10 – Hollywood, Fla.
5/11 – Hollywood, Fla.
5/14 – Ft. Meyers, Fla.
5/15 – Melbourne, Fla.
5/17 – Jacksonville, Fla.
5/19 – Charlotte, N.C.
5/21 – Greenville, S.C.
5/22 – Huntsville, Ala.
5/24 – Montgomery, Ala.
5/25 – Biloxi, Miss.
6/20 – Dresden, Ger.
6/23 – Manheim, Ger.
6/24 – Bonn, Ger.
6/26 – Abenberg, Ger.
6/28 – Berlin, Ger.
6/29 – Hamburg, Ger.
7/1 – Munchen, Ger.
7/2 – Dortmund, Ger.
7/4 – Paris, France
7/5 – Paris, France

The 50 Best Rolling Stones Songs by Duffy part. 4

31. Let it Loose
This may be the most overlooked Stones song. Track 13 on Exile hits right as the album starts to lose some of the energy from the brilliant first side. After starting as a slow piano-drive ballad—performed by none other than Dr. John—it snowballs into this triumphant gospel-drenched, horn-backed affair. It conveys more emotion than any of the band’s many other heartbreak songs.



32. Sway
While Richards receives a co-songwriting credit for “Sway,” it’s been said that this song, along with “Moonlight Mile,” were products of the two Micks (Jagger and Taylor) working closely together. Jagger played rhythm guitar, while Taylor took the impressive solos on his shoulder. As the former sings in the song’s chorus, “It’s just that demon life has got me in its sway,” you can’t help but wonder if he’s referring to Richards’ whereabouts.



33. Let It Bleed
Ian Stewart’s piano and Keith Richards’ slide guitar perfectly complement each other to drive home a simple but universal message: We all need someone we can lean on, and the Stones reassure us that they’ve got our backs. Fans know where to turn when they’re dreaming of a steel guitar engagement.



34. Let’s Spend the Night Together
It’s tame by today’s standards, but in 1967, “Let’s Spend the Night Together” was risque enough to get the Stones banned from the Ed Sullivan Show after an obviously irked Mick Jagger delivered the substitute “let’s spend some time together” line he’d agreed to sing on the show with an exaggerated eye roll. Scandalous!



35. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
In nearly all of their great songs, The Rolling Stones capture listeners through their memorable riffs, hooks, fills and choruses. “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” started off in this regard, until halfway through where the band departs into one of their most dexterous instrumental displays. The song carries on for over seven minutes, slowly building up into a triumphant guitar-and-sax-led frenzy before end on an abrupt high note.



36. Mother’s Little Helper
Along with its Aftermath counterpart “Paint It, Black,” “Mother’s Little Helper” featured experimental progressions by the band, who had for the first time penned all their own songs. Brian Jones incorporated sitar into the track’s composition, while Mick Jagger discusses the downsides of drug use, mainly barbiturates, in this 1966 single.



37. Salt of the Earth
Keith Richards takes over lead vocals on this track that pays tribute to the proletariat. It’s a simple ode to working folks and “the common foot solider,” and it still resonates today; Joan Baez recently covered it at an Occupy Wall St. protest to signify her solidarity with the 99 percent.



38. It’s Only Rock ’N Roll (But I Like It)
Written as a cheeky response to critics who overanalyzed the band’s work, “It’s Only Rock ’N Roll (But I Like It)” can be looked at as The Rolling Stones’ mission statement. As the wise Daniel Desario would declare on Freaks and Geeks decades later, “Rock ’n’ roll don’t come from your brain. It comes from your crotch.” Sometimes all you need are some horns, some David Bowie backup vocals and a bombastic frontman who’s willing to spill his guts all over the stage—it’s not rocket science. But we like it.



39. Monkey Man
Near the tail end of Let It Bleed, “Monkey Man” remains a criminally underrated number within the Stones’ great recording stretch spanning 1968-1972. From the pianist Nicky Hopkins’ subtle intro to Richards’ classic guitar leads, the band shows its talents even with their deeper cuts in their catalog.



40. Under My Thumb
While the song never was released as a single off their 1966 record Aftermath, “Under My Thumb” gained traction among Stones fans as the years went on. In addition to quality of the song itself, it’s had its fair share of controversy. The song’s themes portray men in a dominant light, and it also happened to be the fateful song being played when tragedy struck at Altamont.



To be continue …..

New Jimi Hendrix Album to Feature 12 Previously Unreleased Tracks

Rolling Stone points out that a new album featuring 12 previously unreleased tracks from the late Jimi Hendrix will hit shelves March 5.

Fans will be treated to 12 previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix tracks when People, Hell and Angels album is released on March 5. First previewing a sample of the recording on what would have been the iconic musician’s 70th birthday, Rolling Stone has debuted the full version of the lead single “Somewhere.” Recorded in 1968, Hendrix showcases his blend of blues and rock as he jams with Buddy Miles on drums and Stephen Stills on bass.

The album features experimental recordings from 1968 and 1969 that Hendrix considered using for First Rays of New Rising Sun. People, Hell and Angels will be released on March 5.

Check out the full version of “Somewhere” below.

The 50 Best Rolling Stones Songs by Duffy part. 3

21. Play with Fire
Penned by the entire group and credited to their collective “Nanker Phelge” pseudonym, “Play with Fire” actually only features two Stones—Jagger on vocals and tambourine and Richards on acoustic guitar. The sparse instrumentation gives the lyrics room to breathe as Jagger eerily warns a spoiled brat of a lover not to cross him.


22. Midnight Rambler
“Midnight Rambler” was one of many examples of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ collaborative partnership as co-songwriters. The former took on vocals and the song’s signature harmonica riffs, while the latter played all the guitars on the recording. Together, along with the help of Wyman, Jones and Watts, they assembled this six-and-a-half minute rollicking Lumber



23. She Said Yeah
It’s kind of hard to understand how “Let’s Spend the Night Together” was deemed too naughty for TV when the Stones performed this equally suggestive Larry Williams cover on the air two years earlier in 1965. The band speeds up the pace (the song clocks in under two minutes) and swaps out the original’s saxophone parts for some much more rock ’n’ roll-sounding distorted guitars while Mick coos, “She said yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, c’mon daddy, I wanna make love to you too”—and the result sounds positively sinister.



24. 19th Nervous Breakdown
Part of what makes “19th Nervous Breakdown,” an ode to a spoiled ex-girlfriend with a delicate temperament, so genius is the fact that it sounds exactly like what it’s describing. The quick tempo threatens to fly off the rails at any moment, and the guitar fill after “look around” conjures up visuals of anxious young ladies craning their necks to peer over their shoulders. Finally, it all comes unhinged at the end with Bill Wyman’s classic dive-bombing bass line




25. Miss You
In competing with punk’s rise during the late ‘70s, The Rolling Stones had been put on notice. They returned with Some Girls—a New York-centric album featuring Ronnie Wood’s Stones debut. Between disco-inspired elements and Jagger’s nonchalant song-speak, this album revitalized the band’s career—with “Miss You” at the center of the sea change




26. Paint It, Black
The Rolling Stones originally tried a funky, funnier take. After reworking the track into a more somber version, Jagger added lyrics about a girl’s funeral—adding to its darker musical themes. But “Paint It, Black”— one of their most popular and covered songs—remains brilliant for its experimentation, including Brian Jones’ most prominent use of the sitar, Bill Wyman’s bass overdubs and Keith Richard’s guitar work.



27. Angie
It’s hard to decide what’s more heartbreaking: Mick Jagger’s somber lament or Nicky Hopkins’ evocative accompaniment on piano. The two go hand-in-hand throughout “Angie”—the band’s standout on their 1973 record Goat’s Head Soup. Angie’s identity remains unclear—guesses have ranged from David Bowie’s first wife, Angela, all the way to a drug euphemism. But the song remains one the band’s best songs post-1972.




28. Sweet Virginia
“Dead Flowers” gets more recognition as the Stones’ finest country song, but this Exile track is another stellar example of the honky-tonk-inspired magic they’re capable of. The titular Virginia is presumably a woman, but close your eyes when you listen to this one and you’ll swear that Mick and company hail from the Southern state of the same name




29. Factory Girl
“Factory Girl” shows off the British rockers’ folksier side, ditching the electric guitar and bass for acoustic guitar, conga drums, fiddle, mandolin samplers and tabla. Like on their country efforts (see “Dead Flowers”), The Rolling Stones did an impressive job stepping outside their usual rockers to create this folk number. It’s simple, stripped-down and gets the job done.




30. Love in Vain
Fabled bluesman Robert Johnson’s influence on The Rolling Stones is immense, and on this Let It Bleed track, they take his 1937 original and add some country flair. Ry Cooder’s mandolin is the driving force behind this gem

David Bowie Surprises Fans with New Single (VIDEO)

David Bowie will release a brand new studio album, ‘The Next Day,’ this March. It will be the recently reclusive rocker’s first new record since 2003′s ‘Reality.’

Bowie wasted no time this morning (Jan. 8) kicking off his 66th birthday celebration, launching a new website mere minutes after midnight ET with the announcement and the release of a video for the record’s first single, ‘Where Are We Now?’

The video for the melancholy, restrained piano-based ballad features the faces of Bowie and a woman superimposed on the heads of a pair of mannequins dressed in fur bodysuits in an artist’s loft. Near the end we get our first non-paparazzi look at the always fashion-forward rock star in years, and it seems his new sartorial statement is… jeans and a t-shirt? Who cares, Bowie’s back! Maybe it was casual Friday.

As his site explains, ‘The Next Day’ will be released on March 8 in Australia, March 12 in the U.S.A. and March 11 everywhere else. A 14-track standard edition and a 17-track deluxe version of the album are currently available for pre-order on iTunes, and you can pick up the new single there as well.