Sunday, August 31, 2008

Chart Watch - August 29, 2008

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current music charts. Chart highlights:

  • ABBA continues their amazing run worldwide as the highest ranking veteran artist on the U.S., British, Canadian and Australian album charts, but a new contender is coming on.
  • Metallica's first single from their new album, Death Magnetic, is making a splash around the world. The Day That Never Comes premiers at number 31 on the top U.S. singles, 25 on the digital songs, 7 on the mainstream rock and 36 on the U.K. singles charts. In addition, the interest in the new album has pushed the Metallica album back into the U.S., British and Canadian album charts and four additional Metallica catalog tracks enter the British singles chart.
  • George Jones reenters the charts this week as his duets album, Burn Your Playhouse Down, starts on the album chart at number 79 and the country album chart at 15.
Previous week position noted in parenthesis.
Comprehensive

Top 100 Albums

Top 50 Singles
  • #31 (-) - The Day That Never Comes - Metallica

Top 25 Digital Songs
  • #18 (-) - The Day That Never Comes - Metallica

Top 25 Pop Catalog Albums
R&B

Top 50 R&B Albums

Top 50 R&B Songs
  • None

Top 10 R&B Catalog Albums
Country

Top 25 Country Albums

Top 25 Country Singles
  • #8 (9) - Troubadour - George Strait

Top 10 Country Catalog Albums
Rock

Top 10 Rock Albums

Top 10 Hard Rock Albums
  • None

Top 20 Mainstream Rock Tracks
  • #7 (-) - The Day That Never Comes - Metallica
  • #20 (15) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue

Top 20 AAA Tracks
  • #9 (9) - Hollow Man - R.E.M.
  • #11 (12) - My Sweet Love - John Mellencamp
  • #19 (24) - Boots of Chinese Plastic - Pretenders
Adult Contemporary

Top 20 Adult Contemporary Tracks
  • #10 (10) - After All These Years - Journey
  • #19 (19) - Enemy Within - Michael McDonald

Top 20 Adult Top 40 Tracks
  • None
Dance

Top 25 Dance Club Play
  • #5 (1) - Into the Nightlife - Cyndi Lauper
  • #13 (7) - Give It To Me - Madonna
  • #15 (14) - Give Piece a Chance - (Yoko) Ono

Top 10 Dance Singles Sales
  • #2 (1) - Give It 2 Me - Madonna
  • #6 (6) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
Jazz

Top 15 Jazz Albums

Top 15 Contemporary Jazz Albums
Americana

Music Association Top 40 Airplay
United Kingdom

Top 100 British Albums
Top 100 British Singles
  • #23 (20) - Give it 2 Me - Madonna
  • #36 (-) - The Day That Never Comes - Metallica
  • #48 (55) - Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • #51 (46) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #53 (-) - Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
  • #60 (-) - Enter Sandman - Metallica
  • #63 (-) - Baby - LL Cool J
  • #83 (68) - Mamma Mia - ABBA
  • #87 (83) - I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
  • #91 (-) - I Disappear - Metallica
  • #94 (-) - One - Metallica
  • #99 (72) - Honey Honey - Original Cast of Mamma Mia!
Canada

Top 100 Canadian Albums

Top 100 Canadian Singles
  • #31 (27) - Give it to Me - Madonna
  • #36 (38) - Troubadour - George Strait
  • #65 (53) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #74 (71) - I Thought I'd Seen Everything - Bryan Adams
  • #82 (87) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue
Australia

Top 50 Australian Albums
Top 50 Australian Singles
  • #31 (24) - Give It To Me - Madonna
  • #40 (34) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
Japan

Top 100 Japanese Singles
  • #80 (R) - Give It To Me - Madonna
  • #91 (-) - 20th Century Boy - T.Rex

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Saturday, August 30, 2008

Lennon Bio to Be Filmed, Grateful Dead May Reunite, more

The story of the young John Lennon will be coming to the big screen with Nowhere Boy. The film is being made by Ecosse Films with direction by Sam Taylor-Wood and screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh who also wrote the the films Control. The film will focus on Lennon's relationships with his mother and aunt up until the time he partnered with Paul McCartney.

Fox News is reporting that the Grateful Dead may reunite in October to raise money for the campaign of Barack Obama. Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmann would be joined by Warren Hayes of Goverment Mule and the Allman Brothers. The report also says that the show could be a test for a possible full tour in 2009.
It's the big 5-0 for Michael Jackson. He told ABC's Good Morning America "I'll just have a little cake with my children and we'll probably watch some cartoons."

A very rare Jackson promo CD is up for auction on eBay. Said to be one of only ten made, the CD was given to executives to promote the upcoming release of the Dangerous album. Included is a never released track, Men in Black, along with alternate versions of Black or White and Too Much Monkey Business.
Meet Glen Campbell is proving to be the pop/country singers biggest album in thirty years. It premiered on the country album chart at number 27, the highest position for one of Campbell's albums since Basic reached number 17 in 1976. On the comprehensive album chart, the album starts at number 155.
A tape of the final Beatles concert in Canada from August 17, 1966 will be auctioned tomorrow on eBay. The starting bid is $10,000 with an expected selling price between $20 and 30,000.
Vern Gosdin, who was a staple on country radio from 1977 to 1991, will release a four-disc set in November called 40 Years of The Voice. Included in the 101 tracks will be fourteen songs from 1973 that have never been previously released and eleven new tracks.

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Friday, August 29, 2008

Van Halen Members Split on McCain Use of Right Now

Criticizing political candidates for using music is getting to be a regular occurrence. This time it's Van Halen who say that "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given" for the use of their song Right Now at McCain's rally earlier today announcing his VP pick. "Van Halen are not political, they're just rock and roll."

Sammy Hagar, who wrote the tune while with the group, took a bit of a different stance. In a statement, he said:

"When I wrote the lyrics to "Right Now" I intended them to inspire people to not sit around and wait for something they believed in but to go out and get it -- to make a change however they needed to. Whether it was McCain who used the song or if Obama had chosen to use the song, with the current political climate, the lyrics still have the same meaning, and we all need to do something to make a difference, every action counts. In fact, I still feel so strongly about this that I wrote a new song "Cosmic Universal Fashion" with a young Iraqi musician in an attempt to motivate a new generation to the same affect. I am pleased to be associated with the lyrics to my original song and the new one in hopes that both will make people move to
make a difference."

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Two New Releases Coming From the Cure

The Cure have set October 14 as the U.S. release date for their new album 4:13 Dream. The set is being released by Suretone/Geffen.

Four of the songs on the album will be familiar to fans as they have been released as singles on the 13th of each of the last four months. Those songs, The Only One, Freakshow, Sleep When I'm Dead and The Perfect Boy, will also see their own release on September 13 in remixed form with the EP Hypnagogic States. The remixes were done by 30 Seconds to Mars, Jade Puget (AFI), Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump (both of Fall Out Boy) and 65 Days of Static. A fifth track, Exploding Head Syndrome, mixes together all four singles. Proceeds from the EP go to the Red Cross.

No track list has been released yet and the album art shown above has also not been officially announced.

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Stipe Hates Bush, Campbell Gets Honor, more

Michael Stipe of R.E.M. does not hold back when it comes to his dislike of President George Bush. While talking with the BBC, he talked about the inspiration for the song Man Sized Wreath.

"I just can't stand the guy or his administration. Man Sized Wreath was about him going to the graveside of Martin Luther King, one of my heroes, and I think desecrating the memory of that great man and his work by being there during the war. I found it pathetic so I wrote that song about it."

Meanwhile, Peter Buck is collaborating on the first two volumes of the multi-disc box set Score! The First 20 Years of Merge Records.

Glen Campbell will be honored on September 20 at the Americana Music Festival and Conference in Nashville. Jim Lauderdale and Raul Malo will host the event.

Earlier in the day, Campbell will be the subject of a Question and Answer session and there will be a screening of Meet Glen Campbell: A Documentary, on the recording of his new album.
AC/DC's first single from Black Ice, Rock 'n' Roll Train, was released to radio stations today and will be used starting September 1 on the promos for the CBS program Criminal Minds.
The van carrying blues singer Koko Taylor's backup group, The Blues Machine, was involved in a one-vehicle accident last Saturday night in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Five of the seven band members in the vehicle had broken bones which required surgery while the remaining two members were treated and released.
Current and veteran stars like Neil Finn, Ben Lee and the Veronicas are contributing music to the album Easyfever, a salute to the Australian band the Easybeats (Friday on My Mind).
The rumor mill is running overtime as to surprise guests at next weeks MTV Video Music Awards. The lastest has Michael Jackson presenting an award with sister Janet.
A report in Entertainment Weekly says that MTV games will be releasing more downloadable albums for their upcoming Rock Band 2 game. Among those named are Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Megadeth's Peace Sells... But Who's Buying and Stevie Ray Vaughn's Texas Flood.

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Smiths Best of To Include Rarities

A new Smiths compilation goes where their other best ofs don't, into the realm of live tracks and rarities. Hang the DJ: The Very Best of the Smiths will be out October 7 via Rhino but, if you want those special tracks, you'll have to go with the two-CD version.

The single disc version of the albums functions as the greatest hits packaged with the 23 tracks arranged in chronological order. The two-disc set's second CD contains album combined with the alternate takes and concert pieces.

The track list:

  • Disc One
    • Hand In Glove
    • Reel Around The Fountain
    • This Charming Man
    • What Difference Does It Make
    • Still Ill
    • Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
    • William, It Was Really Nothing
    • How Soon Is Now?
    • Shakespeare's Sister
    • Barbarism Begins At Home
    • That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
    • The Headmaster Ritual
    • The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
    • Bigmouth Strikes Again
    • There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
    • Panic
    • Ask
    • You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby
    • Shoplifters Of The World Unite
    • Sheila Take A Bow
    • Girlfriend In A Coma
    • I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
    • Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
  • Disc Two
    • Handsome Devil (Live)
    • Jeane
    • This Charming Man (New York vocal)
    • Back To The Old House
    • These Things Take Time
    • Girl Afraid
    • Please, Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
    • Oscillate Wildly
    • Stretch Out And Wait
    • Meat Is Murder (Live in Oxford)
    • Asleep
    • Money Changes Everything
    • The Queen Is Dead
    • Vicar In A Tutu
    • Cemetry Gates
    • Half A Person
    • Sweet And Tender Hooligan
    • I Keep Mine Hidden
    • Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate version)
    • Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
    • What's The World (Live in Glasgow)

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Entertainment Weekly's Readers Pick the Worst Covers

Entertainment Weekly asked their readers to nominate songs for a list of the worst covers ever made. Basically, what it came down to was a bunch of tween singers getting a bit big for their talents and a few misguided choices by more talented artists. Those getting double bad news include Celine Dion, Hilary Duff and Jessica Simpson.

Interestingly, a few of these were actually quite big hits, topped off by Whitney Houston's version of I Will Always Love You. It was one of the biggest hits of the 90's, yet EW's readers pick it as a bad cover.

Here's the list along with the original artist.

  • Smells Like Teen Spirit - Tori Amos (Nirvana)
  • It's My Life - No Doubt (Talk Talk)
  • Piece of My Heart - Faith Hill (Janis Joplin & Big Brother and the Holding Company)
  • Against All Odds - Anyone that's performed it on American Idol (Phil Collins)
  • Alone - Celine Dion (Heart)
  • I Drove All Night - Celine Dion (Roy Orbison, Cyndi Lauper)
  • I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston (Dolly Parton)
  • Beat It - Fall Out Boy with John Mayer (Michael Jackson)
  • My Generation - Hillary Duff (Who)
  • Our Lips Are Sealed - Hillary & Haylie Duff (Go-Gos)
  • I Love Rock 'N' Roll - Britney Spears (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
  • Bringin' on the Heartbreak - Mariah Carey (Def-Leppard)
  • Have You Seen Her - M.C. Hammer (Chi-Lites)
  • When a Man Loves a Woman - Michael Bolton (Percy Sledge)
  • Take on Me - Jonas Brothers (a-ha)
  • Sympathy for the Devil - Guns 'N' Roses (Rolling Stones)
  • Sweet Child O' Mine - Sheryl Crow (Guns 'N' Roses)
  • American Pie - Madonna (Don McLean)
  • Angels - Jessica Simpson (Robbie Williams)
  • Take My Breath Away - Jessica Simpson (Berlin)

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Diamond Offers Apology & Refund, Sonic Youth Goes Back to Indie, more

Neil Diamond is making good on a poor performance on Tuesday night at Ohio State University. The singer was under the weather and fans noticed his sub-par performance, some even leaving early. Angry comments soon started surfacing on the Internet.

Diamond released a statement on his website:

Dear Fans in Columbus,
Please give me a few days to figure out a way to make it up to you. I haven't let you down before and I wont let you down now. Until you hear from me again remember, You are the sun. I am the moon. You are the words. I am the tune. Forgive me. I love you. Neil.
Concert attendees can request a refund for their tickets by September 5.
Dolly Parton has finally responded to the rumors that she had died this past weekend. "I did about have a heart attack when I found out I was dead. But I am feeling better than ever."
Sonic Youth will once again become and indie band as their eighteen year commitment with Geffen Records comes to a close. Their first album sans big company is currently in the writing process.
Steve Foley, the drummer for the Replacements from 1990 to 1991 when the group broke up, passed away last weekend from an accidental overdose of prescription medication. He was 49. While he continued playing music, his later years were spent as a car salesman in Minneapolis.
The only veteran artist to receive a nomination for this year's MTV Video Music Awards is Madonna who received a nod for Best Dancing in the video for 4 Minutes.
Marty Stuart is set to bring back the country music variety show as his Marty Stewart Show premiers on RFD-TV. Stewart's wife, Connie Smith, will be along for the ride along with country music historian Eddie Stubbs.

"This show is about authenticity. From the artists who visit us in the studio every week to the people watching at home in America who enjoy watching The Porter Wagoner Show, [and] The Wilburn Brothers."

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ozzy Osbourne Documentary Being Made By Son Jack

Jack Osbourne doesn't have too many good things to say about the long-running MTV series The Osbournes. As far as he is concerned, the series totally misrepresented his father and didn't show the true musician and man.

To rectify the situation, Jack is making a documentary on his father Ozzy. Tentatively titled Jack (Ozzy's real first name), the film will contain interviews with all of the members of Black Sabbath along with friends and family.

Osbourne told Rolling Stone, "My dad's not an idiot — he's nothing short of a genius."

"He does have huge flaws, and we're trying to really paint an honest picture of that. I think The Osbournes, to a degree, tarnished the public's perception of my dad as a bit of a senile, funny, bumbling guy.

"My dad can be that guy, but it's not him. I think that almost discredited who he is as an artist."

Jack would like to present a preview of the film at next year's Ozzfest.

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McCartney to Finally Play Israel

It's official. Paul McCartney will perform for the first time in Israel next month as part of the country's 60th anniversary celebration. The show is scheduled for September 25 in Tel Aviv.

It was 43 years ago that McCartney was blocked for the first time from performing in Israel when the government decided that the Beatles music would corrupt their youth. There were also problems with the promoter being able to raise enough funds.

He once again scheduled as show with Wings in the late '70's, but it was canceled due to problems with the venue.

Now, everything is in place to bring in McCartney for what is being called the Friendship First concert. McCartney said in a statement, “I’ve heard so many great things about Tel Aviv and Israel, but hearing is one thing and experiencing it for yourself is another. We are planning to have a great time and a great evening. We can’t wait to get out there and rock.”

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Cher to Play Catwoman?, Annie Lennox Takes 6 Months Off, more

The UK Telegraph is reporting that Christopher Nolan is in talks with Cher to play Catwoman in the next Batman movie, tentatively titled The Caped Crusader.

A studio executive said, "He wants to her to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years. The new Catwoman will be the absolute opposite of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry's purring creations."

Annie Lennox has talked to the San Francisco Chronicle about her operation for an impinged nerve in her back. "I could only drag my leg around the house. Something told me urgent action was required.

"I had micro surgery... This is the fifth time I've gone under the scalpel and each time I think it's miraculous.

"I can now walk again slowly, without the drag, but it's going to take at least six months of physiotherapy before I start to walk more normally again."
Dionne Warwick, Jerry Butler and Bonnie Raitt have been named the hosts for the 20th Anniversary Pioneer Awards of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. The ceremony is September 9 at the Kimmel Center of the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. See our previous article for the list of honorees.
Iggy Pop injured his leg on Sunday at London's Get Loaded in the Park festival when he fell awkwardly from a speaker stack. The singer gamely carried on for the full set.
British singer Cilla Black (You're My World) is set to host a new dating game show on Britain's SkyTV.
Filmmaker Ang Lee is currently making the movie Taking Woodstock, the story of Elliot Tiber, the man who offered his Catskill's hotel to the organizers of the festival. The film stars Demetri Martin, Liev Schreiber, Paul Dano, Emile Hirsch and Zoe Kazan.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Genesis Early Recordings Box Set Coming in November

Genesis 1970-1975 has been scheduled for release on November 10 in Europe via EMI and November 11 in North America through Atlantic/Rhino. The 7-CD/6-DVD set will cover the groups first five albums, Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

Each album will be included on a remastered CD (two CDs for The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway) along with a new 5.1 surround mix on a DVD. The DVDs will also include video interviews and other rarities. A sixth CD/DVD combo contains further rarities from the group's archives. The European version of the set contains CD/SACD hybrid discs.

The track list and extras for the set:

  • Trespass
    • CD and 5.1 DVD
      • Looking for Someone
      • Mountain
      • Visions of Angels
      • Stagnation
      • Dusk
      • The Knife
    • DVD Visual Extras
      • Reissues Interview 2007

  • Nursery Cryme
    • CD and 5.1 DVD
      • The Musical Box
      • For Absent Friends
      • The Return of the Giant Hogweed
      • Seven Stones
      • Harold the Barrel
      • Harlequin
      • The Fountain of Salmacis
    • DVD Visual Extras
      • Reissues Interview 2007

  • Foxtrot
    • CD and 5.1 DVD
      • Watcher of the Skies
      • Time Table
      • Get 'Em Out by Friday
      • Can-Utility and the Coastliners
      • Horizons
      • Supper's Ready
        • Lover's Leap
        • The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man
        • Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men
        • How Dare I Be So Beautiful?
        • Willow Farm
        • Apocalypse in 9/8 (Co-Starring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet)
        • As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet)
    • DVD Visual Extras
      • Reissues Interview 2007
      • Pop Shop 1972
        • The Fountain of Salmacis
        • Twilight Alehouse
        • The Musical Box
        • The Return of the Giant Hogweed
      • Italian Television 1972
        • Stagnation
  • Selling England by the Pound
    • CD and 5.1 DVD
      • Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
      • I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
      • Firth of Fifth
      • More Fool Me
      • The Battle of Epping Forest
      • After the Ordeal
      • The Cinema Show
      • Aisle Of Plenty
    • DVD Visual Extras
      • Reissues Interview 2007
      • Genesis In Concert 1973
        • Watcher of the Skies
        • Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
        • I Know What I Like
        • The Musical Box
        • Supper's Ready
      • French Television 1973
        • The Musical Box
        • Supper's Ready
        • The Return of the Giant Hogweed
        • The Knife

  • The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
    • CD and 5.1 DVD
      • Fly on a Windshield
      • Broadway Melody of 1974
      • Cuckoo Cocoon
      • In the Cage
      • The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging
      • Back in N.Y.C.
      • Hairless Heart
      • Counting Out Time
      • The Carpet Crawlers
      • The Chamber of 32 Doors
      • Lilywhite Lilith
      • The Waiting Room
      • Anyway
      • Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist
      • The Lamia
      • Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats
      • The Colony of Slippermen
        • The Arrival
        • A Visit to the Doktor
        • The Raven
      • Ravine
      • The Light Dies Down on Broadway
      • Riding the Scree
      • In the Rapids
      • It
    • DVD Visual Extras
      • Reissues Interview 2007
      • Melody 1974
        • I Know What I Like
        • Supper's Ready
      • Slides
      • Photos

  • Extra Tracks 1970 To 1975
    • CD and 5.1 DVD
      • Happy the Man
      • Twilight Alehouse
      • Going Out to Get You
      • Shepherd
      • Pacidy
      • Let Us Now Make Love
      • Provocation
      • Frustration
      • Manipulation
      • Resignation
    • DVD Visual Extras
      • Reissues Interview 2007
      • VH1 Documentary 1998: Genesis Archive 1967-75
      • Midnight Special 1973
        • Watcher of the Skies
        • The Musical Box

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Madonna, the Museum, Pink Floyd Get Swedish Award, more

Madonna will, for the first time, exhibit over 300 personal items from February 21 to March 22 at London's Old Truman Brewery. Items included are her pink Material Girl dress, her Music outfit and costumes from Evita.

Pink Floyd and American soprano Rene Flemming were presented with the 2008 Polar Music Prize by Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf on Tuesday. Floyd were recognized for their "monumental contribution ... and captured the mood and spirit of a whole generation in their reflections and attitudes." Nick Mason and Roger Waters were on-hand to accept the award. Included is a check for $157,700.
Lynyrd Skynyrd says that they are almost done recording their next album. The group is working with guitarist John 5 who has played regularly with Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie.

Ricky Medlocks told Billboard, "I was surprised that this guy could sit down and play Glen Campbell and Roy Clark better than they do, and it blew my mind. And then he loves southern rock, the blues and country. It really blew us away."

Look for the album in early 2009.
Sony BMG, Arista Records, Santana and the Doors have tentatively settled their lawsuit with Wolfgang's Vault, the streaming site with recordings from the Bill Graham archives. No terms were announced.
A new Kenny Rogers retrospective, Kenny Rogers: 50 Years, was released Tuesday exclusively through the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain. While the album contains most of the usual tracks, there are also three newly recorded songs.
Neil Diamond was forced to postpone shows in Green Bay, Wisconsin and St. Louis, Missouri after coming down with a throat infection. His North American tour starts again on September 10.

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New Releases - August 26, 2008

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Monday, August 25, 2008

Parton Not Dead Yet, Springsteen & Bon Jovi Playing for Barack, more

I think everyone knows this already, but Dolly Parton isn't dead.

A rumor ran rampant over the internet this past weekend that Parton had died of congestive heart failure at the age of 60. Nobody is sure how the rumor got started, but the general consensus is that an announcement was made at a high school football game (although where is unknown) and that big world network took the news and spread it like wildfire. There are even people reporting that they saw it on Fox News, but there is nothing on their website.

At this point, Parton has not made a statement and her PR agent, Pete Owens, has only said unofficially that the singer is fine.

The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that both Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen will be playing at Denver's Invesco field on Thursday as part of the Barack Obama nomination acceptance speech festivities.
George Micheal told the crowd at a Sunday night show in London that he would be releasing a free download of the song Feeling Good from the show The Roar of the Greaspaint, The Smell of the Crowd during the Christmas season. He also stated that he would be releasing a new holiday song at the same time.
James McCarty, Jr., guitarist for Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, has filed suit against Rhino Entertainment and Warner Music over unpaid royalties. An amount is not named in the lawsuit paperwork.
Tony Bennett will be honored as one of GQ magazine's Men of the Year in London on September 3.
A Canadian fan of the Who must really want to schlep around Pete Townshend's guitars. The man paid $25,100 in an eBay charity auction to be the group's roadie for a day.
Ralph Young, half of the singing duo of Sandler and Young, passed away last Friday at the age of 90. The duo was best known for appearances on Ed Sullivan and the Kraft Music Hall; however, they recorded 22 albums over the course of their career.

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Madonna Invokes Response to Hitler Image From McCain Campaign and ADL

Madonna kicked off her Sticky and Sweet tour this past weekend and, as usual, there is controversy. A photo montage that is flashed on the backdrop shows Republican presidential candidate John McCain along with scenes of destruction and other tyrants from history such as Adolph Hitler and Robert Mugabe.

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds told Fox News "The comparisons are outrageous, unacceptable and crudely divisive all at the same time. It clearly shows that when it comes to supporting Barack Obama, his fellow worldwide celebrities refuse to consider any smear or attack off limits."

The Anti-Defamation League also issued a statement condemning the performance. Abraham F. Foxman, National Director and Holocaust survivor, said:

Comparisons to Hitler have no place in a music concert, or in the presidential campaign.

Whatever Madonna's political or personal views, it is outrageous to invoke Nazi imagery in the context of John McCain's candidacy or to make a comment on American political leadership.

It is inappropriate and offensive to compare any current or former world leaders with the man ultimately responsible for the death of six million Jews and the suffering of countless others during the Holocaust.
Doing so trivializes the history of the Holocaust and is an insult to the memories of the victims and their families.

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Farm Aid Announces Full Line-Up

Farm Aid has announced the full lineup for the September 20 concert at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Along with the regular headliners Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews, this years show will include:

  • Kenny Chesney
  • The Pretenders
  • moe.
  • Arlo Guthrie
  • Jerry Lee Lewis
  • Steve Earle
  • Nation Beat
  • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
  • Jakob Dylan and The Gold Mountain Rebels
  • Danielle Evin
  • Jamey Johnson
  • Jesse Lenat
  • Will Dailey
  • One Flew South
  • The Elms
Doors for the show open at Noon with the show starting at about 1 PM. The concert will be broadcast on Direct TV's The 101 HD channel along with a stream on FarmAid.org.

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family-farmed food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

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at 7:09 PM , 0 comments
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McCartney May Play Israel, Marley Gets Statue in Serbia, more

Israeli media is buzzing with the rumor that Paul McCartney will finally play in Tel Aviv on September 25 as part of the country's 60th Anniversary celebration. The Beatles were banned from performing in the country back in 1965 for fear that their lyrics would corrupt the youth of Israel.

A statue of Bob Marley has been erected in the small Serbian village of Banatski Sokolac to promote "peace and tolerance" as he did in his music.
Iggy Pop says he won't stop his stage diving anytime soon. He recently told the U.K. Sunday Mail "Only once has it turned out really badly. I was on this dumb tour and was determined to outdo the Bloodhound Gang.

"All these little kids were looking at me thinking 'Who is this weird old man'.

So I did a predator drone on them - a surprise dive. They moved away and I dislocated my shoulder."

Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics will introduce his new clothing line at a Las Vegas trade show this coming week. Per the press release, "The Rock Fabulous collection is a bit more rock 'n' roll than other Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier lines. It's very upscale and clubby. The sort of thing a rock star can wear on stage."

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at 1:14 AM , 0 comments
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Sunday, August 24, 2008

Jimmy Page Plays Olympic Closing, Jason Bonham Talks Zeppelin & Foreigner

Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis performed Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, but not quite as you might remember. Lewis wanted lyrics in the second verse changed from "every inch of my love" to "every bit of my love" and the third verse was altered to take out additional innuendos.

Here's video of the performance (at least as long as it's allowed to stay posted):



Jason Bonham, son of the late John Bonham and drummer in the recent Led Zeppelin reunion, told a Detroit radio station about his working with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones and his status with Foreigner.

"I've been over a couple of times. I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do just do some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something."

"My time with Foreigner is coming to an end. This is the first time I've talked about it. I leave at the end of this month so, I mean, I'm looking forward to taking some time out to be with the family really. Since I moved to America I've been on the road, so my first priority is to go and watch my kids grow up, because they've grown up way to fast in the last four years."

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at 6:34 PM , 0 comments
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Isaac Hayes' Family Looking to Recover Song Rights

Back in 1976, at the peak of his career, Isaac Hayes was forced into bankruptcy. One of the things the court ordered was the sale of the rights to his music up to that time (including the Theme From Shaft) which went for a paltry $30,000.

The singers family has decided to launch a legal action to recover the song rights as a away to provide for his widow and two-year-old son. Estimates say that the rights are worth several thousand dollars per year.

Son Issac Hayes III said, "He definitely was done wrong. I'm very passionate about that. If that means me trying to get my father's material back, I'm all for it."

Allan Arrow, who is solicitor for Hayes, said, "I can't rule out litigation... I would hope that we can retrieve a good part of what he lost."

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at 6:17 PM , 0 comments
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Saturday, August 23, 2008

Chart Watch - August 22, 2008

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current music charts. Chart highlights:

  • Once again, ABBA is the highest charting veteran artist on the U.S., Canadian and Australian album charts with the soundtrack to Mamma Mia! and in Britain and on the U.S. Pop Catalog Album charts with Gold.
  • There are very few new releases charting with Ritchie Havens' new album, Nobody Left to Crown, starting at 35 on the Americana albums and the resurgance of collections by Isaac Hayes and Leonard Cohen on the R&B catalog and British album charts respectively.
  • Cyndi Lauper has her second number one Dance Play song from her new album with Into the Night Life.
  • We've added reviews of the Canadian and Australian album charts.
Previous week position noted in parenthesis.
Comprehensive

Top 100 Albums

Top 50 Singles
  • None

Top 25 Digital Songs
  • None

Top 25 Pop Catalog Albums
R&B

Top 50 R&B Albums

Top 50 R&B Songs
  • None

Top 10 R&B Catalog Albums
Country

Top 25 Country Albums

Top 25 Country Singles
  • #9 (9) - Troubadour - George Strait

Top 10 Country Catalog Albums
Rock

Top 10 Rock Albums

Top 10 Hard Rock Albums

Top 20 Mainstream Rock Tracks
  • #15 (14) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue

Top 20 AAA Tracks
  • #9 (9) - Hollow Man - R.E.M.
  • #12 (10) - My Sweet Love - John Mellencamp
Adult Contemporary

Top 20 Adult Contemporary Tracks
  • #10 (12) - After All These Years - Journey
  • #19 (24) - Enemy Within - Michael McDonald

Top 20 Adult Top 40 Tracks
  • None
Dance

Top 25 Dance Club Play
  • #1 (2) - Into the Nightlife - Cyndi Lauper
  • #7 (7) - Give It To Me - Madonna
  • #14 (9) - Give Piece a Chance - (Yoko) Ono

Top 10 Dance Singles Sales
  • #1 (1) - Give It 2 Me - Madonna
  • #6 (6) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
Jazz

Top 15 Jazz Albums

Top 15 Contemporary Jazz Albums
Americana

Music Association Top 40 Airplay
United Kingdom

Top 100 British Albums
Top 100 British Singles
  • #20 (17) - Give it 2 Me - Madonna
  • #46 (39) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #55 (46) - Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • #68 (68) - Mamma Mia - ABBA
  • #72 (69) - Honey Honey - Original Cast of Mamma Mia!
  • #78 (-) - The Perfect Boy - Cure
  • #83 (105) - I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
  • #95 (88) - Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
  • #98 (103) - Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
Canada

Top 100 Canadian Albums

Top 100 Canadian Singles
  • #31 (27) - Give it to Me - Madonna
  • #36 (38) - Troubadour - George Strait
  • #65 (53) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
  • #74 (71) - I Thought I'd Seen Everything - Bryan Adams
  • #82 (87) - Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue
Australia

Top 50 Australian Albums
Top 50 Australian Singles
  • #24 (25) - Give It To Me - Madonna
  • #34 (31) - 4 Minutes - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
Japan

Top 100 Japanese Singles
  • None

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at 11:27 PM , 0 comments
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