July 24, 2017 by Amy Gold
During the week of July 16, 2017, Billy Joel launched a new series of shows on Sirius XM as a guest DJ on the station's Beatles Channel in which he provides in-depth commentary about albums by the Fab Four.
Also that week, Kenny Rogers announced a farewell concert to take place in October featuring a final performance with his longtime duet partner, Dolly Parton.
Steve Howe of Yes recently released a box set titled "Anthology 2: Groups And Collaborations." The soundtrack to the upcoming movie, "Detroit," featuring such top bands and artists as The Dramatics, The Elgins, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Brenda Holloway, and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, will be coming out later this month. A limited-edition David Bowie vinyl disc with two versions of "Heroes" will be coming out in September. Also that month, Yusuf, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, will release a new album titled "The Laughing Apple." Also, a new album titled "A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" will be coming out in November.
Also that week, the Recording Academy announced that next year's recipient of its MusiCares Person of the Year will be Fleetwood Mac. The award ceremonies will take place next January at NYC's Radio City Music Hall.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
The Who perform "I Can See For Miles" on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (July 19, 2017).
July 19, 2017: Yes Guitarist Steve Howe To Release Compilation
Yes guitarist Steve Howe announced a career retrospective box set titled "Anthology 2: Groups And Collaborations" which is due out on July 21, 2017. This 56-track collection, which is a sequel to Howe's 2015 solo compilation, "Anthology," gathers together various songs he performed with a number of bands he had been a member of over his long career. Highlights include songs by Yes and Asia, plus rarities from several 1960s psychedelic British bands.
July 19, 2017: Kenny Rogers Announces Farewell Concert
Pop-country legend Kenny Rogers announced a farewell concert to mark the end of his six decades-long performing career. This star-studded event takes place on October 25, 2017 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and will include a final performance with his longtime duet partner, Dolly Parton. For more info and tickets, visit AllInfortheGambler.com.
Source: Kenny Rogers announces farewell concert to feature a final performance with Dolly Parton
July 19, 2017: Fleetwood Mac To Be Named MusiCares Person Of The Year
The Recording Academy announced that next year's recipient of its MusiCares Person of the Year will be Fleetwood Mac, making this the first time a band rather than an individual artist will be receiving this prestigious honor. The award ceremonies will take place during Grammy Week on January 26, 2018 at NYC's Radio City Music Hall.
Source: Fleetwood Mac the first band to be honored as MusiCares Person of the Year
July 19, 2017: New Aretha Franklin Album To Be Released
A new album titled "A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" will be coming out on November 10, 2017. This 14-track collection features reworked renditions of such Queen of Soul classics as "Respect," "Think," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" with orchestral backing.
Source: New album featuring classic Aretha Franklin songs enhanced by an orchestra due in November
July 20, 2017: Yusuf/Cat Stevens To Released New Album
Yusuf/Cat Stevens announced a new album titled "The Laughing Apple" which is due out on September 15, 2017. Highlights include the recently-released single, "See What Love Did to Me," plus some early rarities, "Mighty Peace," "Mary And The Little Lamb," and "You Can Do (Whatever)."
Source: Hear Yusuf / Cat Stevens' Joyous New Song 'See What Love Did to Me'
July 20, 2017: New David Bowie Vinyl Picture Disc To Be Released
A limited-edition David Bowie seven-inch vinyl picture disc will be coming out on September 22, 2017. This recording features two versions of "Heroes," with the A-side featuring a 2017 remastered version of the original single version, and the B-side to feature a previously unreleased recording of Bowie performing the song in 1977 on a TV show. "Heroes" was originally released in 1977 and, over the years, has become one of Bowie's signature songs.
Source: New David Bowie vinyl picture disc featuring two versions of "Heroes" due out in September
July 20, 2017: Soundtrack To 'Detroit' To Be Released
A new movie titled "Detroit" about the riots that took place in the Motor City during the summer of 1967 will open on August 4, 2017 in theaters across the country. The soundtrack to this movie, to be released by Motown Records sometime later this month, features such Motown greats and other veteran R&B artists as The Dramatics, The Elgins, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Brenda Holloway, and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.
Source: Detroit film soundtrack features Marvin Gaye, Martha & the Vandellas & more
July 21, 2017: Billy Joel To Guest DJ On Sirius XM
Billy Joel will soon launch a new series of shows on Sirius XM as a guest DJ on the station's Beatles Channel. In this series, he will provide in-depth commentary about each album by The Beatles on a track-by-track basis, with particular attention to those songs that have influenced him the most over the years. During the first show, which airs July 21, 2017, Joel will focus on Capitol Records' first two Beatles' albums released in the U.S.: "Meet The Beatles!" (1964) and "The Beatles' Second Album" (1964).
Source: Billy Joel to Guest DJ, Reflect on Every Beatles Album on Sirius XM
