Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of August 20, 2017

August 28, 2017 by Amy Gold

During the week of August 20, 2017, fans bade a final farewell to famed 1950s rockabilly pioneer Sonny Burgess.

Also that week, Paul McCartney announced that he will offer one fan the chance to sing onstage with him at an upcoming concert in NYC as part of a charity event recently launched by Omaze.

Neil Young recently released two new archival box sets of remastered albums from the 1970s: "Original Release Series 5-8" and "Original Release Series 8.5-12." A new John Lee Hooker box set titled "King Of The Boogie" will be coming out in September. Also coming that month is the companion soundtrack to the upcoming PBS documentary series, "The Vietnam War," featuring numerous oldies classics that helped define the era. A new archival album titled "Yardbirds '68" will be coming out in November with live and studio recordings featuring Jimmy Page on lead guitar. Also coming out that month is "Leftoverture Live & Beyond," a new live album by Kansas documenting the band's 40th anniversary tour.

Also that week, a new season was announced for the Sammy Hagar-hosted AXS TV reality series, "Rock & Roll Road Trip," to premiere in early 2018. Featured artists will include Roger Daltrey of The Who and Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead.

Finally, August 23, 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. release of "Are You Experienced," the landmark debut album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The track list includes such classics as "Purple Haze," "Foxy Lady," and "Hey Joe."

(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)


Jerry Lee Lewis gives a rollicking performance of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" at a Skyville Live tribute concert in his honor that took place on August 24, 2017 in Nashville.


August 21, 2017: Rockabilly Great Sonny Burgess Passes Away

Rockabilly singer, songwriter, and guitarist Albert Austin "Sonny" Burgess died on August 18, 2017 at age 88 in Little Rock, Arkansas due to complications of a fall. He was signed on to Sun Records during the 1950s and recorded several songs now considered to be rockabilly classics that included "We Wanna Boogie" and its flip side, "Red Headed Woman." Although his mainstream commercial success was limited and he never charted, he is considered by many to be a pioneering figure in rockabilly with his manic onstage performance style, growling vocals, and frenetic guitar playing. Burgess had a resurgence in popularity in Europe during the 1990s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Europe in 1999.

Source: Sonny Burgess, Rockabilly Wild Man, Is Dead at 88 - The New York Times

August 21, 2017: New Season Of Sammy Hagar's AXS TV Reality Series Announced

A new season was announced for the Sammy Hagar-hosted AXS TV reality series, "Rock & Roll Road Trip," which will premiere in early 2018. This season's featured guest artists will include Roger Daltrey of The Who and Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead. For more info, visit axs.tv.

Source: Roger Daltrey, Pat Benatar among stars to be featured on third season of Sammy Hagar's AXS TV reality series

August 21, 2017: Soundtrack To 'The Vietnam War' PBS Series To Be Released

A new 10-part documentary series titled "The Vietnam War" will premiere September 17, 2017 on PBS. The soundtrack to this upcoming series, which features music from the 1960s-early 1970s, will be coming out on September 15. This 38-track collection includes a mix of Vietnam era-defining classics such as Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising," along with many lesser known gems.

Source: Soundtrack of PBS' "The Vietnam War" series includes songs by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, CCR and many more

August 22, 2017: New John Lee Hooker Box Set To Be Released

A new John Lee Hooker box set titled "King Of The Boogie" will be coming out on September 29, 2017. This career-spanning, 100-song collection includes all of the late blues legend's top hits plus various rarities, live performances, and other previously unreleased material.

Source: New John Lee Hooker Box Set Features Unreleased Music - Rolling Stone

August 22, 2017: Kansas To Release Live Album Documenting 40th Anniversary Tour

On November 3, 2017, Kansas will release a new live album documenting the band's 40th anniversary tour. Titled "Leftoverture Live & Beyond," this collection includes performances from 12 concerts Kansas gave during the spring of 2017. The band's 40th anniversary tour is scheduled through a December 16 concert in Reading, PA. For more info, visit KansasBand.com.

Source: Kansas releasing live album documenting "Leftoverture" 40th anniversary tour

August 22, 2017: Paul McCartney Offers One Fan A Chance To Sing With Him

As part of a charity initiative recently launched by the Omaze fundraising platform, Paul McCartney is offering one lucky fan the chance to sing "Get Back" with him in front of an audience during a sound check before a concert to take place September 21, 2017 at NYC's Barclays Center. Besides getting to perform alongside the ex Beatle, the winning bidder will also get two VIP tickets to the concert and will be put up in a four-star hotel. For more info, visit Omaze.com/Paul.

Source: Paul McCartney offering fans the chance to sing with him as part of new charity campaign

August 25, 2017: Neil Young Releases Two CD Box Sets Of 1970s Albums

Neil Young recently released two new limited-edition archival CD box sets of remastered albums that originally came out during the 1970s. The first box set, "Original Release Series 5-8," includes four long out-of-print albums: "Time Fades Away" (1973), "On The Beach" (1974), "Tonight's The Night" (1975), and "Zuma" (1975). The second box set, "Original Release Series 8.5-12," includes "American Stars 'N Bars" (1977), "Comes A Time" (1978), "Rust Never Sleeps" (1979), "Live Rust" (1979), and "Long May You Run" (1976) with Stephen Stills. For more info, visit Neil Young's store.

Source: Neil Young releases two CD box sets featuring most of his 1970s albums

August 25, 2017: New Archival Yardbirds Album With Jimmy Page To Be Released

A new archival album titled "Yardbirds '68" will be coming out on November 5, 2017. Produced by Jimmy Page, this collection gathers together live and studio recordings from 1968 when he played lead guitar with The Yardbirds. Highlights include live performances of such Yardbirds' classics as "Heart Full Of Soul" and "Over Under Sideways Down," plus covers of "Train Kept A Rollin'," "Drinking Muddy Water," and the future Led Zeppelin standard, "Dazed And Confused." For more info, visit JimmyPage.com.

Source: Jimmy Page-era Yardbirds album, featuring rare live and studio recordings from 1968 due in November