April 30, 2017 by Amy Gold
During the week of April 23, 2017, Ringo Starr announced a contest in which the winner will get to join him this July at a charity brunch to take place on his 77th birthday.
Foreigner, Boston, and Deep Purple are among the many veteran bands and artists to take part in Live Nation's "Kickoff To Summer Ticket Promotion" event when over 1,000,000 tickets to various concerts around the country will be offered at only $20 apiece. Paul McCartney announced a series of new show dates to be added to the North American leg of his "One On One" tour beginning in July. Also, Steely Dan frontman and co-founder Donald Fagen announced a U.S. tour with his band, The Nightflyers, starting in August.
Procol Harum recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with the release of a new album titled "Novum." The Stax Classics series, a new set of compilation albums each featuring a top act from this legendary label, will be coming out in May. Cheap Trick will release a new album titled "We're All Alright!" which is due out this June. Also that month, a top-selling ABBA compilation from 1992 titled "Gold: Greatest Hits" will be reissued on vinyl.
Also that week, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) donated his first single, "I Love My Dog" (1966), to PETA for use as background music in a video to promote its National "Adopt A Shelter Pet" Day campaign.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" will be coming out on May 26, 2017 as a special 50th anniversary reissue in various editions and formats, with additional tracks that include this previously-unreleased studio outtake.
April 24, 2017: Donald Fagen Of Steely Dan Announces Tour
Steely Dan frontman and co-founder Donald Fagen announced a tour that will take him and his band, The Nightflyers, to various states around the country. This upcoming 24-date trek begins on August 3, 2017 in Port Chester, NY and ends on September 16 in San Francisco, with additional stops in California, as well as in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington State, and Wisconsin. The shows will feature songs from Fagen's solo recordings.
Source: Donald Fagen preps special Nightflyers tour
April 25, 2017: Foreigner, Boston, Deep Purple Part Of Budget Concert Special
Foreigner, Boston, and Deep Purple are among those to take part in Live Nation's "Kickoff To Summer Ticket Promotion" event when over 1,000,000 tickets to various concerts around the country will be offered at only $20 apiece for some 1,000+ shows and 50+ tours. Other bands and artists taking part in this event include Rod Stewart, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Alice Cooper, The Edgar Winter Band, and CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers. Tickets go on sale May 2, 2017 with the special offer continuing for one week. For more info, visit kickofftosummer.hvnlnna.com.
Source: Foreigner, Boston, Deep Purple part of $20 summer concert ticket special
April 25, 2017: Paul McCartney Announces New Show Dates
Paul McCartney announced 14 new show dates to be added to the North American leg of his "One On One" tour. These new shows begin on July 5, 2017 in Miami, FL and end on October 1 in Detroit MI, covering Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, and New York. For more info, visit paulmccartney.com.
Source: One on One + 14: Paul McCartney adds tour dates
April 26, 2017: Ringo Starr Announces Birthday Charity Contest
Ringo Starr announced a contest in which the winner will get to join him and his friends at a charity brunch on his 77th birthday, July 7, 2017. This event will take place in Los Angeles where the lucky winner and guest will receive an all-expenses paid trip and be put up in a four-star hotel. Fans can enter this contest by donating a minimum of $10 to the David Lynch Foundation through Omaze.
Source: Ringo Starr Announces Birthday Charity Contest
April 26, 2017: Procol Harum Releases New Album
Procol Harum recently released a new album titled "Novum" in commemoration of the band's 50th anniversary. This 11-track collection features all-new songs, with most of the lyrics written by Pete Brown famous for his work with Cream during the 1960s. Procol Harum's current lineup includes original frontman and co-founder, Gary Brooker.
Source: Procol Harum returns with new album, 'Novum'
April 26, 2017: ABBA 'Gold: Greatest Hits' Album To Be Reissued
An ABBA compilation from 1992 titled "Gold: Greatest Hits" will be coming out June 30, 2017 on vinyl as a limited-edition reissue. This all-time top-selling album includes such classics as "Dancing Queen," "SOS," and "Waterloo."
Source: ABBA offers deluxe reissue of 'Gold: Greatest Hits'
April 26, 2017: Stax Classics Series Albums To Be Released
The Stax Classics series, a new set of ten compilation albums each featuring a top act from this legendary label, will be coming out on May 19, 2017. The featured bands and artists in this upcoming series include William Bell, Booker T. & The M.G.'s, The Dramatics, Isaac Hayes, Albert King, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, The Staples Singers, Johnnie Taylor, and Carla Thomas. These albums mark the launch of a year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of Stax Records during which many more archival recordings will be released.
Source: Stax Records Plots Massive 60th Anniversary Campaign
April 27, 2017: Cheap Trick To Release New Album
Cheap Trick will release a new album titled "We're All Alright!" which is due out on June 16, 2017. Highlights of this 10-track collection (13 for the deluxe edition) include "Long Time Coming" which the band recently released as a single.
Source: Cheap Trick Debuts 'Long Time Coming' Single From 'We're All Alright!' Album: Exclusive | Billboard
April 28, 2017: Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) Donates Early Single To PETA
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) recently donated his first single, "I Love My Dog" (1966), to PETA for use as background music in a video to promote its National "Adopt A Shelter Pet" Day campaign which takes place on April 30, 2017. This heartwarming video, which uses "I Love My Dog" as background music, encourages prospective pet owners to adopt from a local animal shelter rather than buy from breeders or pet stores.
Source: The former Cat Stevens donates early single to PETA campaign to end animal homelessness
