We'll Be Back

Because of the passing of a family member, the posting of new stories will be sporadic over the next three to four days. We will be back with full coverage soon.

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Gene McDaniels (1935-2011)

Gene McDaniels, who scored top ten hits in the early-60's with A Hundred Pounds of Clay, Tower of Strength and Chip Chip, passed away on Friday at the age of 76. No further details are available at this time.

McDaniels was born in Kansas City, KS and grew up in Omaha, NB. The son of a minister, his early life was full of gospel music including music by the Swan Silvertones and Soul Stirrers. As a teen, he played saxophone and trumpet but mainly concentrated on developing his four-octave range.

Gene formed his first group at the age of 11, singing gospel but eventually moving more towards pop. His professional debut was with the group the Mississippi Piney Woods Singers who toured to the west coast where he stayed, singing in jazz clubs, with the end result being a short stint working with Les McCann.

Liberty Records noticed and signed McDaniels, teaming him up with Snuff Garrett. The two put together a series of catchy, highly produced hits including A Hundred Pounds of Clay (1961/#3 Pop/#11 R&B), Tower of Strength (1961/#5 Pop/#5 R&B), Chip Chip (1962/#10 Pop) and Point of No Return (1962/#21 Pop/#31 R&B).

As the Stax and Motown sounds started to take over the Soul market, McDaniels' more sophisticated sound started to fade and, after the assassination of Martin Luther King, he moved for a number of years to Denmark and Sweden.

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1971, he started going as Eugene McDaniels and spent most of his time writing for others, including Feel Like Makin' Love (Roberta Flack) and Compared to What (Les McCann and Eddie Harris). He also released two final albums, Natural Juices (1975) and Screams & Whispers (2005). Living his later life as a near-hermit in Maine, Gene's final work was a series of YouTube videos featuring his music and comments on his life.

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Preview: Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner (2-CDs/1-DVD)

Artist: Foreigner
Title: Feels Like the First Time
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Label: Razor & Tie
Format(s): 2-CDs/1-DVD

Foreigner is going back to their classic hits once again for a unique package to celebrate their 35th anniversary in music.

Feels Like the First Time will contain two-CDs and one-DVD with different takes on their classic hits and will be available exclusively through Wal-Mart starting September 13.

The first CD, Acoustique: The Classics Unplugged, contains nine of the group's best known songs performed in acoustic arrangements plus the song The Flame Still Burns, written by Mick Jones for the film Still Crazy and a cover of the classic That's All Right.

The second CD, Juke Box Hero, contains eleven new digital recordings of the group's hits plus the new song Save Me. The versions were originally a way for Foreigner to reclaim the hits to control licensing but they decided it was something the fans would like, too.

The DVD is Live in Chicago, recorded in March during two shows at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL. The show will also be part of an upcoming PBS fund drive.

Track List:

Disc 1: Acoustique: The Classics Unplugged

• Long, Long Way From Home
• Cold As Ice
• The Flame Still Burns
• Double Vision
• Fool For You Anyway
• Say You Will
• Starrider
• Waiting For A Girl Like You
• Feels Like The First Time
• Juke Box Hero
• That's All Right

Disc 2: Juke Box Heroes

• Save Me
• Feels Like The First Time
• Cold As Ice
• Long, Long Way From Home
• Hot Blooded
• Double Vision
• Head Games
• Dirty White Boy
• Urgent
• Waiting For A Girl Like You
• I Want To Know What Love Is
• Juke Box Hero

DVD: Live in Chicago

• Double Vision
• Head Games
• Cold As Ice
• Waiting For A Girl Like You
• When It Comes To Love
• Blue Morning, Blue Day
• Dirty White Boy
• Starrider
• Feels Like The First Time
• Urgent
• I Want To Know What Love Is
• Hot Blooded
• Juke Box Hero

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Ron Wood Moves From Radio to TV Host

Ron Wood of the Faces and the Rolling Stones is adding a new TV program to his current duties as a radio host. The 64-year-old musician has landed a Sky Arts program in Britain following the success of his award-winning radio slot for Absolute Radio in the UK.

The show will feature debate about the music industry with interviews with music stars and specially-recorded live performances.

Ronnie, who recently picked up Music Personality of the Year at the 2011 Sony Awards, is looking forward to expanding his horizons, while giving audiences a real glimpse of the music industry.

"I've had so much fun doing my radio show and had lots of success with recent awards,' he said yesterday.
"It's now going to TV to give the audience the chance to see behind the scenes."

BBC Radio 2 evening show presenter Jo Whiley is also joining the TV channel.

The show will launch next February and ten programs will be made under the direction of production company Somethin' Else Executive Producer Jez Nelson.

'This is a real bulls-eye for Somethin' Else. We came up with the idea for the radio show with Ronnie a year ago; now that it has become an international radio hit, and won a number of awards including a Sony Gold, it is the right time to look at taking it to the next level, transferring it on to TV," he said.

Sky Arts boss James Hunt is thrilled to have Ronnie on board. The TV exec says the star will be a welcome addition to the project.

"Jo and Ronnie are wonderful assets. We're delighted,' he said.

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Watch: Journey Performs Don't Stop Believing on the Today Show

For a thirty year old song, Don't Stop Believin' has become about as overplayed as Stairway to Heaven, thanks to its use in both The Sopranos and Glee. Journey appeared this morning on NBC's Today Show as part of their concert series.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Chart Watch Britain: Chart of July 30, 2011

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

• Once again, the Electric Light Orchestra have the biggest selling album by a veteran artist in the U.K. with All Over the World: The Very Best of the Electric Light Orchestra.
• On the Singles chart, the new release by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie, debuts at number 44.

TW = This Week, LW = Last Week, N = New, R = Returning to Chart.  The highest charting entry by a veteran artist is shown in red.

Top 100 British Albums

TW	LW	Title	Artist
1	1	21	Adele
2	2	4	Beyonce
3	3	19	Adele
4	6	Deleted Scenes From the Cutting Room Floor	Caro Emerald
5	4	Born This Way	Lady Gaga
42	39	All Over the World: The Very Best of	Electric Light Orchestra
61	55	In Your Dreams	Stevie Nicks
80	79	Up on the Roof: The Very Best of	Drifters
81	75	Working My Way Back to You: Collection	Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
82	93	Greatest Hits	Guns N' Roses
83	69	So Beautiful or So What	Paul Simon
89	95	Piece of the Action: The Best of	Meat Loaf
90	85	Legend	Bob Marley & the Wailers
93	103	Gold: Greatest Hits	ABBA
95	100	Private Investigations: The Best of	Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler

The balance of the British charts are after the cut.

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Short Takes: Morrissey, Country Music Hall of Fame, Who, Cheap Trick

Morrissey loves to make controversial statements, but he may have taken it too far. The animal activist said to a Warsaw audience on Sunday night "We all live in a murderous world, as the events in Norway have shown. Though that is nothing compared to what happens in McDonalds and Kentucky Fried shit every day."

76 people were killed last week by a Christian extremist in Norway.

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The Country Music Hall of Fame is looking to expand to more than twice its current size with the help of a $75 million expansion campaign. That goal seems well within reach just as the drive kicks off as they already have $56 million in commitments.

Overall, there would be more than 200,000 square feet added to the complex along with an 800-seat theater.

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The Who officially announced Quadrophenia: The Director's Cut box set for a November release which will feature a remaster of the original double album, Pete Townshend's previously unheard demos including songs that didn't make it onto the original album, an exclusive eight-track 5.1 sound DVD, a deluxe hardback book, previously unseen personal notes, photographs, memorabilia and other exclusive material that will be announced over the coming months.

Townshend said of the project "This 2011 revisit to the Who's 1973 Quadrophenia recording is inspired by current and continuing interest in the project. The Who performed a concert version of the piece at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010 for the Teenage Cancer Trust with excellent reviews, and the success of that event led to the prospect of a Who tour in 2012 based on the album. The last such tour was between 1996-1997."

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Cheap Trick is demanding safety for the bands and audiences after their near-death experience two weeks ago in Ottawa when the stage on which they were playing collapsed in a high wind.

Band manager Dave Frey said in a statement "We simply want to know: what are the companies and organizers doing to protect the next act and the next audience? Every act and every fan out to be asking the same question when attending an outside musical event. Was it a design flaw? Was it an implementation mistake? These are important questions that must be answered."

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Linda Ronstadt Writing Memoir

In the world of music memoirs, it would seem that Linda Ronstadt would have enough to put together a War & Peace size volume. Her career has included recordings in almost every genre of music, she has been on the arm of some of the most fascinating men of her time including Jerry Brown and George Lucas, and has lately become politically active. She is the owner of ten Grammy Awards in the genres of pop, country, children's recordings, Mexican-American and Tropical Latin and has been nominated for works in rock and both traditional and contemporary folk. Throw in two Academy of Country Music Awards, an Emmy, an ALMA and nominations for both a Golden Globe and a Tony and you have a wide ranging life that certainly has stories that need to be told.

On Thursday, Simon & Schuster announced that Ronstadt will pen her memoirs in the book to be titled Heart Like a Wheel. The publisher said "Few singers have been as wide-ranging or distinctive in their artistry."

It should be fascinating to hear how Ronstadt moved from country-rock to Gilbert & Sullivan (her role in the Broadway production and movie of The Pirates of Penzance), pop standards (her three albums with Nelson Riddle) and her work saluting her Latin heritage.

Plans are for a 2013 release.

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Preview: Laughing Down Crying - Daryl Hall

Artist: Daryl Hall
Title: Laughing Down Crying
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Label: Verve Forecast
Format(s): CD, DD

Legendary singer-songwriter Daryl Hall will release his fifth solo album, Laughing Down Crying, on September 27 via Verve Forecast. Produced by Greg Bieck (Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin) and Paul Pesco, the album marks the final recordings made in the 30-year partnership between Hall and the late T-Bone Wolk.

Along with his long career with Hall & Oates, Daryl has recently become a darling of the on-line set with his show Live From Daryl's House which debuts a new program each month, streamed from his site.

Track List:

• Laughing Down Crying
• Talking to Myself
• Lifetime of Love
• Eyes for You
• Save Me
• Message to Ya
• Wrong Side of History
• Get Out of the Way
• Crash and Burn
• Problem With You

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Otis Redding Returns to the Singles Charts for the First Time in 41 Years

Otis Redding has a top 50 Single and a top 15 R&B Single for the first time since 1969 with a little help from Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Otis, billed as Jay-Z and Kanye West Featuring Otis Redding, is on the R&B Singles for the first time since September 13, 1969 when his Free Me was at number 30. The number 15 position is the highest he's been on the chart since early 1969 when Papa's Got a Brand New Bag made it to number 10.  The break of 41 years and 10 months is the longest in R&B history, beating Cab Calloway who held the old record at 30 years.

On the Hot 100, it has been 42 years and 1 month since his last appearance. Here, he doesn't break a record as the Chipmunks had a span of 46 years between 1962 (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) and 2007 (The Christmas Song (Don't Be Late) (2007 Version)).

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Short Takes: Pete Townshend, Kate Bush, ZZ Top, Bon Scott, Linda Ronstadt, Jose Feliciano, Gil Bernal, Rush

Pete Townshend took to his blog to refute recent comments by Roger Daltrey about the current state of his hearing. "My hearing is actually better than ever, because after a feedback scare at the O2 Indigo in December 2008 I am taking good care of it. I'm 66, I don't have perfect hearing, and if I listen to loud music or go to gigs I do tend to get tinnitus. DON'T WE ALL????"

He also confirmed that he is continuing work on the Quadrophenia deluxe edition, saying that he is engineering the album along with some younger engineers who can work on the higher frequencies that are now out of his range of hearing. The plans are for the Who to go on the road next year playing the album.

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An executive from EMI has told an Australian newspaper that an album of new material by Kate Bush should see release in November. He added "Of course, you can never be sure with Kate Bush. She does things at her own pace. But we’ve been told to prepare for a November release."

Bush's last album of new material was 2005's Aerial. She released Director's Cut in May which contained ten reworked tracks from her albums The Sensual World and The Red Shoes.

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Billy Gibbons has told Mojo magazine that the upcoming ZZ Top album, produced by Rick Rubin, has a classic sound. "“It sounds and feels like Tres Hombres, with a few elements of the Eliminator period thrown in. A pretty wide range, from basic blues to slightly more fancy stuff."

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Bon Scott's life is being replayed in a number of forms. The late-AC/DC singer was the subject of a play recently in Australia and, now, the government is funding a biopic. Directing the film will be Eddie Martin. Scott was with the group from 1974 until his death in 1980.

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It has been announced that Linda Ronstadt and Jose Feliciano will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Latin Grammys. The awards are November 9 in Las Vegas.

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Sax player Gil Bernal, who performed with the likes of Spike Jones and Lionel Hampton and played on the Robins' Smokey Joe's Cafe and Duane Eddy's Rebel Rouser, has passed away at the age of 80. He also worked with Ry Cooder including Buena Vista Social Club.

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Rush's new DVD, Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland, has been rescheduled from September 27 to October 25.

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Beach Boys Planning a New Album for 50th Anniversary

In the on-again/off-again festivities to celebrate the Beach Boys 50th Anniversary, Mike Love says the recording of a new album is on.

Love has told Billboard that the album will involve all of the remaining members of the group and is only in the planning stages at this time.

"Where we're at right now is Brian (Wilson)'s written some songs, I've written some songs (and) we're talking very seriously about getting together and co-writing and doing some new music together," Love tells Billboard.com. "He's been doing his own touring, we've been doing ours and so we haven't really been able to lock into that, but it looks like this fall we will. It just makes a lot of sense with a milestone such as 50 years to get together and do something."

The last album released by the group was 1996's Stars and Stripes Volume 1.

Love also has floated the possibility of at least one, if not more, live performances with original members Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine. He did carefully avoid including Wilson in his statement, although Brian's participation is not totally out of the question.

To see all of the information from Love, go to B

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The Top 25 Tours for the First Half of 2011

The touring business is back according to Billboard who announced their top 25 tours for the period November 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011.

U2 once again tops the list, although that mega-tour is finally starting to wind down. The grossed over $174 million over that period on 23 sellouts. In second place, well behind, is Roger Waters with a gross of over $114 million on 69 sellouts. Bon Jovi is third with $107 million in gross sales on 45 sellouts.

Overall, just over 50% (13 of 25) of the top 25 involve veteran artists including two shows with a pair of vets.

The top five and veteran artists farther down the list (Gross/Shows/Sell-Outs):

• 01. U2 ($174.7 million/23/23)
• 02. Roger Waters ($114.4 million/69/69)
• 03. Bon Jovi ($107.4 million/45/45)
• 04. Lady Gaga ($71.9 million/45/43)
• 05. Usher ($70.1 million/70/55)
• 06. Eagles ($49.0 million/23/3)
• 10. Iron Maiden ($22.8 million/19/3)
• 13. Neil Diamond ($18.7 million/11/3)
• 14. Elton John ($18.3 million/18/16)
• 15. George Strait & Reba McEntire ($17.5 million/17/6)
• 18. Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks ($16.8 million/12/11)
• 20. Prince ($14.7 million/9/6)
• 21. Leonard Cohen ($14.6 million/15/9)
• 24. Metallica ($13.3 million/6/6)
• 25. Ozzy Osbourne ($13.1 million/19/2)

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Alice Cooper Announces Second Leg of No More Mr. Nice Guy Tour

Alice Cooper has announced the second leg of his No More Mr. Nice Guy tour which begins August 5 in Billings, MT and runs through August 27 in Detroit, MI.

• 08/05 Billings, MT - Alberta Bair Theater
• 08/06 Sturgis, SD - Buffalo Chip Campground
• 08/07 Moorhead, MN - Bluestern Center For The Arts
• 08/09 Akron, OH - Akron Civic Center
• 08/11 Grand Rapids, MI - Rockin The Rapids
• 08/12 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE (Outdoor Stage)
• 08/13 Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand Theatre
• 08/15 Morristown, NJ - The Community Theatre at Mayo Center
• 08/16 Reading, PA - Sovereign Performing Arts Center
• 08/17 Columbus, OH - The LC Pavilion
• 08/19 Fairlea, WV - State Fair of West Virginia
• 08/20 Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
• 08/21 Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Theatre
• 08/23 Scranton, PA - Weinberg Theatre
• 08/25 Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre
• 08/26 Buffalo, NY Erie - Canal Harbor Park
• 08/27 Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre

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Metallica to Play San Francisco for $6 to Celebrate Thirty Years

Metallica is playing a four show series in San Francisco to celebrate thirty years in the business and the best news is the price...just $6 per show.

Today the band announced on their site that they’ll play four shows exclusively for their fan club members at San Francisco’s Fillmore theatres in December.

Not only are they playing their old Bay Area stomping ground, but they’ll be winding back the clock to the ‘80s by charging ‘80s prices: six bucks per show, or $19.81 (geddit?) for all four shows.

They write “These unique shows will include special guests and events, rare songs, varied set lists, odds and ends, and all the nutty stuff you expect from Metallica... fun for the entire family!”

The shows are on December 5, 7, 9 and 10 and remember, this is exclusive to Metallica fan club members.

Fans will be able to reserve tickets through their website until August 8.

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Watch: Official Video for Dave Stewart's The Gypsy and Me

Dave Stewart's new solo album, The Blackbird Diaries, will be released on August 23 via Surfdog/Weapons of Mass Entertainment/Razor and Tie.

Stewart recorded the album with guests Stevie Nicks, Colbie Caillat, Martina McBride and the Secret Sisters earlier this year and has been dropping sneak previews of the songs at www.theblackbirddiaries.com when you follow his Twitter @DaveStewart.

Stewart will be touring Australia later this year with Stevie Nicks. He also produced most of her most recent album In Your Dreams.

Dave is also part of the Mick Jagger supergroup SuperHeavy with Joss Stone, Damian Marley and A.R. Rahman. The SuperHeavy album is also due next month.

Here is the official video for the Blackbird Diaries track Gypsy Girl and Me.

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Listen: Ronnie Spector Covers Amy Winehouse's Back to Black

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ronnie Spector, formerly of the Ronettes, has given a heartfelt statement to Rolling Stone over the passing of Amy Winehouse, including "Every time I looked at her, it was like I was looking at myself. She had my beehive, my eyeliner, my attitude. She had such a great soul in her voice and her lyrics were so amazing that I couldn't help but sing one of her songs. I was so happy to see an artist like Amy, because she reminded me of my youth. And she loved girl groups. Damn it! I thought she would carry on."

Part of Spectors concert as of late has been a version of Winehouse's Back to Black. Two years ago, she recorded the song and will finally release it soon as a charity single with proceeds going to Daytop Village, a substance abuse treatment facility.

The following is part of a live rendition of the song from her Christmas concert in 2010. To read her entire statement and hear the single, go to Rolling Stone.

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Michael Jackson Executors May Not Allow Name to Be Used in Tribute Show

More trouble for the Michael Jackson tribute concert announced yesterday by his mother and three siblings, set for October 8 in Cardiff, Wales. Yesterday, brothers Jermaine and Randy voiced opposition to it because it was during the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray. Now, the executors of the Jackson estate have released a statement that puts the show somewhat in jeopardy.

A spokesman for the executors said "Executors for Michael's estate were unaware of the planned tribute and have not been approached to authorize the use of his name."

A separate statement from the executors added "The Estate has not been contacted and is not involved with Global Events Live in the UK tribute concert announced today."

The chances of the estate granting the members of the Jackson family permission to use Michael's name may have been seriously compromised recently with the release of LaToya Jackson's book that alleges that Michael's death was actually a conspiracy by the executors. That was compounded by what is now thought to be a bogus statement made by mother Katherine Jackson attacking the executors over their lawsuit against the Heal the World Foundation. Shortly after the statement came out, Katherine was saying she did not make it and had her lawyer, Adam Streisand, announce "Mrs. Jackson categorically denies signing any statement to the court that makes accusations against the executors of any wrongdoing with respect to her son or his estate. She did not and would not make any such statements about the executors."

Katherine herself then issued a statement apparently trying to smooth over the rift with LaToya's comments, saying "So far I have not seen one shred of evidence that anyone associated with Michael's estate conspired to kill him."

So, the tribute show now lays in the hands of two men who have been attacked with some serious allegations and who hold the key to using the Michael Jackson name at the tribute concert. It looks like it may be another tribute that will never be.

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Preview: Sting: 25 Years - Sting (3-CDs/1-DVD)

Artist: Sting
Title: Sting: 25 Years
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Label: Cherrytree/A&M/Universal Music Group
Format(s): 3-CDs/1-DVD

Cherrytree, A&M and Universal Music Group are celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Sting as a solo artist with Sting: 25 Years.  The collection includes 45 tracks on three-CDs spanning from his debut, 1985's Dream of the Blue Turtle, to his latest, Live in Berlin.

The set was produced by Rob Mathes and executive produced by Sting's manager, Kathryn Schenker. In addition, nine of the songs are newly remixed for the collection by Robert Orton and Steve Fitzmaurice.

The DVD includes Rough, Raw & Unreleased: Live at Irving Plaza with ten performances from the singers 2005 Broken Music Tour.

The entire package is housed in a hardcover book with rare photos, complete lyrics, personal commentary and a new introduction by Sting.

Track List:

CD One

• If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (from Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985))
• Love Is The Seventh Wave (from Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985))
• Consider Me Gone (from Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985))
• Moon Over Bourbon Street (from Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985))
• Fortress Around Your Heart (from Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985))
• Bring On The Night (Live) (from Bring on the Night (1986))
• Driven To Tears (Live) (from Bring on the Night (1986))
• I Burn For You (Live) (from Bring on the Night (1986))
• Be Still My Beating Heart (from ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987))
• They Dance Alone (from ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987))
• Englishman In New York (from ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987))
• Fragile (from ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987))
• We'll Be Together (from ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987))
• Sister Moon (from ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987))
• Secret Marriage (from ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987))

CD Two

• All This Time (from The Soul Cages (1991))
• Mad About You (from The Soul Cages (1991))
• Why Should I Cry For You? (from The Soul Cages (1991))
• The Soul Cages (from The Soul Cages (1991))
• When The Angels Fall (from The Soul Cages (1991))
• If I Ever Lose My Faith In You (from Ten Summoner's Tales (1993))
• Fields Of Gold (from Ten Summoner's Tales (1993))
• Seven Days (from Ten Summoner's Tales (1993))
• It's Probably Me (from Ten Summoner's Tales (1993))
• Shape Of My Heart (from Ten Summoner's Tales (1993))
• When We Dance (from Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting (1994))
• I Hung My Head (from Mercury Falling (1996))
• I Was Brought To My Senses (from Mercury Falling (1996))
• You Still Touch Me (from Mercury Falling (1996))
• I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying (from Mercury Falling (1996))

Disc Three

• A Thousand Years (from A Brand New Day (1999))
• Desert Rose (from A Brand New Day (1999))
• Ghost Story (from A Brand New Day (1999))
• Brand New Day (from A Brand New Day (1999))
• Send Your Love (from Sacred Love (2003))
• Whenever I Say Your Name (from Sacred Love (2003))
• Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing) (from Sacred Love (2003))
• Soul Cake (from If On a Winter's Night (2009))
• The Hounds Of Winter (from If On a Winter's Night (2009))
• Next To You (from Symphonicities (2010))
• We Work The Black Seam (from Symphonicities (2010))
• The Pirate's Bride (from Symphonicities (2010))
• Never Coming Home (from Sacred Love (2003))
• Russians (Live) (from Live in Berlin (2010))
• The End Of The Game (Live) (from Live in Berlin (2010))

DVD: Rough, Raw & Unreleased: Live at Irving Plaza

• Message In A Bottle
• Demolition Man
• Synchronicity II
• Driven To Tears
• Heavy Cloud, No Rain
• A Day In The Life
• Voices Inside My Head/When The World Is Running Down
• Roxanne
• Next To You
• Lithium Sunset

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Chart Watch Australia: July 25, 2011

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

• After spending most of the early part of the year as the top selling album by a veteran artist in Australia, Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits returns to that spot but it is at number 43 and it is the only album by a veteran artist currently in the top 50.

TW = This Week, LW = Last Week, N = New, R = Returning to Chart.  The highest charting entry by a veteran artist is shown in red.  There can be ties in chart positions.

Top 50 Australian Albums

TW	LW	Title	Artist
1	1	21	Adele
2	2	Born This Way	Lady Gaga
3	3	19	Adele
4	4	Sorry For Party Rocking	LMFAO
5	5	Lovestrong	Christina Perri
43	47	Greatest Hits	Bon Jovi

The balance of the Australian charts are after the cut.

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Gene Simmons May Be Headed Down the Aisle

Even though he has professed that he would never get married, it looks like Gene Simmons is going the Warren Beatty route and finally putting his wild oats behind him. The Kiss bassist popped the question to the actress-and-former-Playboy model, in Belize recently.

In video footage for their reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels, he asks Shannon: "I come with so much baggage, but you're the only friend I've got, you're the only one I've ever loved, you're the only one I love, and the only one I ever will love. I've never said those words to anybody, and I don't ever wanna...

"It's funny, they used to watch movies where they say I can't live without you but for me it's true."

He then gets down on one knee and says "will you marry me," at which point Shannon is crying.

Gene, 61, and Shannon, 54, have been together for 27 years and have two children, Nicholas, 22, and Sophie, 19.

The Rock and Roll All Nite hitmaker has previously made his views on marriage very clear, saying in 2007 "I don't believe man is designed to be married. Marriage means nothing to me. Happiness means everything. All I see in marriage is a lot of desperately unhappy people.

"The problem with marriage is somebody else has a right to say how you lead your life. Not even your mother has that right, and she gave you life itself. Why would you ever give anybody else that right?"

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