Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of July 7, 2019

July 15, 2019 by Amy Gold

During the week of July 7, 2019, five classic Beatles songs re-entered the Billboard charts after the recent premiere of "Yesterday," a musical romantic comedy featuring music by the Fab Four. "Here Comes The Sun" made its debut on the Hot Rocks Songs chart at No. 9, along with "Let It Be" at No. 12, "Yesterday" at No. 14, "Hey Jude" at No. 16, and "Come Together" at No. 17.

Also that week, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited onstage at a concert that took place July 13, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The two former Beatles gave a rousing performance of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Helter Skelter" (scroll down to the bottom to see video).

The Doobie Brothers announced a special concert to take place September 12, 2019 in San Francisco where the band will perform its second and third albums, "Toulouse Street" (1972) and "The Captain And Me" (1973), in their entirety. Taking place later that month is the 2019 Farm Aid festival which will be held on September 21 in East Troy, WI. In addition to Farm Aid board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, and Willie Nelson, other featured performers will include Bonnie Raitt and Tanya Tucker. Also, Steve Miller Band's first Las Vegas residency will be held on October 2, 4, and 5 at the city's Wynn Resort and Casino's Encore Theater.

The soundtrack to the upcoming movie, "Blinded By The Light," which features both rare and classic Bruce Springsteen songs, will be released on August 9, 2019. Also, coming out on August 30 are expanded and remastered versions of two recordings by the late Gregg Allman: his 1973 solo debut album "Laid Back," and a 1974 live album, "The Gregg Allman Tour."

"Santana: Live At US Festival," a new video that captures the band's 1982 performance in San Bernardino, CA, will be coming out on September 6, 2019 in various formats. The set list includes such classics as "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va," plus Santana's then-recent Top 20 hit, "Hold On," a cover of The Zombies' "She's Not There," and more.

July 11, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of the release of David Bowie's "Space Oddity," which came out nine days before the historic moon landing. A new app that commemorates both milestones called "Space Oddity x Unlock The Moon Experience" was recently released which lets users access a new mix of the song. To unlock this track, users must align their mobile phone's camera with the moon. For more info, visit SpaceOddity50.com.

A new book titled "The Ballad Of Jethro Tull" with a lavishly illustrated history of the band will be published sometime in November. One version will come with a 7" vinyl recording of frontman Ian Anderson reading a specially-written poem with musical backing.

Also that week, surviving members of The Quarrymen, the famed Liverpool skiffle group that evolved into The Beatles, reunited at London's Abbey Road Studios to record a session for an upcoming documentary titled "PRE FAB!" that will focus on Colin Hanton, the band's original drummer. This upcoming movie is based on the same-named biography by Colin Hall, who also serves as custodian of the late John Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool.

Finally, the original management contract signed by The Beatles with Brian Epstein in January 1962 recently sold for 275,000 pounds (about $344,000) at an auction hosted by Sotheby's in London. At that time, the band consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and original drummer Pete Best. After Best was replaced by Ringo Starr, The Beatles signed a new contract with Epstein in October 1962 which sold for over $550,000 in 2015 at a Sotheby's auction.

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