Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of June 29, 2014

July 6, 2014 by Amy Gold

During the week of June 29, 2014, a new U.S. postage stamp honoring the late and great Janis Joplin was unveiled and is scheduled for release this August.

Also that week, it was announced that over 100 rare Bob Dylan acetate recordings resurfaced after 40 years in a Greenwich Village building where the folk-rock legend had rented a room for use as a studio.

This August, the Zombies will begin a U.S. tour covering both the East and West coasts. The Who will be launching a tour later this year in the U.K. and will also be recording a new album this summer. Also, Steve Walsh, the lead singer and a longtime member of Kansas, announced he is resigning from the band after 41 years.

Joey Molland, the last surviving original member of Badfinger, recently released two solo albums covering the early 1970s-early 2000s. A new Neil Diamond compilation album will soon be coming out with many of his classic hits plus some rarities. The soundtrack to the upcoming James Brown biopic, "Get On Up: The James Brown Story," is set to be released later this month. Also, songs by David Bowie, Blue Swede, the Jackson 5, Norman Greenbaum, and the Raspberries will be part of the soundtrack to the upcoming movie, "Guardians Of The Galaxy," which premieres this August.

Also that week, it was announced that Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and the Eagles made this year's Forbes Magazine's "Celebrity 100" list. Congratulations also go to the Doobie Brothers who were inducted into the International Entertainment Buyers Association's Hall of Fame, and to Carl Perkins, Ann Peebles, and record producer and executive Al Bell who were among those inducted into this year's Memphis Hall of Fame.

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


The Beatles' "A Hard Day’s Night" returns to theaters on July 6, 2014 for its 50th anniversary. In this clip from 1964, the Beatles discuss the making of this comedy movie classic.


June 30, 2014: Zombies To Launch U.S. Tour

Zombies lead singer and co-founding member Colin Blunstone announced that the group will be launching a U.S. tour covering various cities on both the East and West coasts. This tour, which will include three free shows, begins on August 6, 2014 in Fall River, MA and ends on August 24 in San Francisco.

Source: The Zombies Planning to Invade the US Again in August

June 30, 2014: Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Eagles In 2014 Forbes Magazine's 'Celebrity 100'

Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and the Eagles are among those who made this year's Forbes Magazine's "Celebrity 100" list. This list, which is now in its 15th year, ranks musicians, actors, film makers, professional athletes, and other big name celebrities according to their worldwide impact based on media presence, estimated earnings, and other factors.

Source: Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Paul McCartney Land on "Forbes" Magazine's 2014 "Celebrity 100" List

June 30, 2014: The Who Launch 50th Anniversary Tour And Plan New Album

Roger Daltrey announced show dates for the first leg of The Who's 50th anniversary tour which will take place in the U.K. starting November 30, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. The Who frontman and co-founder also indicated that the band is planning to record a new album this summer, the first since "Endless Wire" (2006).

Source: The Who Planning New Album Before Upcoming 50th Anniversary Tour

June 30, 2014: Janis Joplin Stamp Makes Debut

As part of the U.S. Postal Service's Music Icons series, the design for a commemorative stamp featuring Janis Joplin has been unveiled. This new stamp, which shows the iconic singer wearing colorful sunglasses and framed with psychedelic, 1960s-styled lettering, will be released sometime this August.

Source: Janis Joplin Stamp Artwork Unveiled

June 30, 2014: Joey Molland Of Badfinger Releases Two Albums

Joey Molland, the last surviving original member of Badfinger, recently released two mostly solo albums. The first album, "Demos Old And New," contains recordings made by Molland from the early 1970s through 1995. The second, "This Way Up," is a reissue of an album Molland originally released in 2001 which got rave reviews on cduniverse.com. Molland is also currently touring both solo and with Joey Molland's Badfinger.

Source: Badfinger's Joey Molland Releases a Pair of Rare Archival Albums

June 30, 2014: Rare Bob Dylan Acetates Resurface After 40 Years

Record collector Jeff Gold recently discovered 149 rare acetate recordings made by Bob Dylan from ca. late 1960s-early 1970s. This rare collection, which was stashed away in a Greenwich Village building where the folk-rock legend had rented a room for use as a studio, contains unreleased and alternate versions of songs Dylan made as he was recording "Nashville Skyline" (1969), "Self Portrait" (1970), and "New Morning" (1970). Some highlights include electric versions of Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire" and "Folsom Prison Blues."

Source: A Major Discovery -- 149 Unknown Bob Dylan Acetates From His NYC Studio - Recordmecca

July 1, 2014: Carl Perkins, Ann Peebles, Al Bell Inducted Into Memphis Music Hall Of Fame

Carl Perkins, Ann Peebles, and record producer and executive Al Bell, who formerly headed Stax Records, are among this year's nine inductees in the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. The Memphis Music Hall of Fame honors musicians, songwriters, and other in the music industry who have made key contributions to the Memphis musical scene.

Source: Doobie Brothers To Be Inducted Into The IEBA's Hall Of Fame

July 2, 2014: James Brown 'Get On Up' Biopic Soundtrack To Be Released In July

On July 29, 2014, the soundtrack to the upcoming James Brown biopic, "Get On Up: The James Brown Story," is scheduled for release. This collection includes both original songs by the late and great Godfather of Soul and several newer tracks produced and arranged by the Underdogs. The film, which stars Chadwick Boseman in the title role, will make its premiere on August 1.

Source: Soundtrack for James Brown Biopic Get On Up Due Out on July 29

July 2, 2014: Steve Walsh To Quit As Lead Singer Of Kansas

Kansas lead singer and longtime member Steve Walsh announced that is resigning from the band after 41 years. The 63-year-old singer will give his final performance with Kansas on August 16, 2014, in Sioux City, IA. Since the 1970s, the band has continued on through the years, with various personnel changes. In 2013, the original lineup reunited for a 40th anniversary concert in Pittsburgh, PA, backed by a symphony orchestra.

Source: Steve Walsh To Exit Kansas

July 3, 2014: Neil Diamond Releases New Compilation Album

On July 8, 2014, a new Neil Diamond compilation album, "All-Time Greatest Hits," is scheduled for release. This 23-song collection covers Diamond's hits through the years that includes such classics as "Cherry, Cherry," "Sweet Caroline," and "Song Sung Blue," plus a solo version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Later this year, Diamond will also be releasing an album of new original songs, the first since "Home Before Dark" (2008).

Source: Neil Diamond Releasing New Career-Spanning Compilation on Tuesday

July 3, 2014: Songs By David Bowie And Others To Be Part Of 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Soundtrack

David Bowie is among a number of artists to be featured in the soundtrack to the upcoming movie, "Guardians Of The Galaxy," which premieres August 1, 2014. This film's soundtrack, titled "Awesome Mix, Vol. 1," will include Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" from his 1972 album, "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars." Also included in the soundtrack are "Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Swede, "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5, "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, and "Go All The Way" by the Raspberries.

Source: David Bowie Featured On Guardians Of The Galaxy Soundtrack

July 5, 2014: Doobie Brothers Inducted Into International Entertainment Buyers Association's Hall Of Fame

The Doobie Brothers and the band's longtime manager, Bruce Cohn, are among those to be inducted into this year's International Entertainment Buyers Association's Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions to the live entertainment industry. The induction ceremonies will take place on September 30, 2014 in Nashville, TN at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Source: Doobie Brothers To Be Inducted Into The IEBA's Hall Of Fame